The importance of extra curricular activities
Extra and super curricular activities are things that you do in your life outside of the classroom, but why are they important? It is important to develop multiple skills and they are a great way to do this. But what’s the difference?
Extra-curricular activities are things you do outside of the academic world but are still good for your development as a person. This could be something like being in a sports team - this is good for character building, teamwork and leadership if you are the captain or another type of person with some sort of responsibility in your team. It could also be something like doing some sort of volunteering, being part of a chess team or learning a new skill such as public speaking or a musical instrument. Any of your hobbies would be extra-curricular activities as they are outside the curriculum. Having these on your personal statement/CV shows that you are not just someone who only has a life in the classroom or in a book - you also like to get out and follow things that you take interest in. This is good because as important as it is to be good academically, you also need interpersonal skills to be able to work and get along with others in life in general.
Super-curricular activities, however, are things you do that are related to your subjects but not things that you’ll learn in the classroom. It’s doing something of your own accord that’s beyond the syllabus but still something very academic. It could be something like attending or listening to a lecture related to your subjects/prospective uni course, reading a book from one of the experts in a field you’re interested in, taking a short online course on a topic related to your subject or participating in competitions that are subject/career specific. The key thing is to make sure that it is related to the subject/course you are currently studying or applying to study. Having these on your personal statement shows university admissions tutors that you take an extra interest when it comes to your learning and you will hopefully continue that trend when you are at that uni studying the course that you’re applying for and supposedly “passionate” about.
Why are they important? It helps you develop your interests and find out what you really enjoy doing and learning about, especially if it is outside of the curriculum as it is not something that you would encounter in school. It also helps you develop skills such as leadership, communication, music or athletic abilities if those are your hobbies and much more, and these are vital skills in life that are not necessarily something that would get developed to the same extent in a classroom. Yes, it is helpful to put on your CV and/or personal statement, however, the impact it has on you as a person is much greater. Extra-curricular activities also simply give you a fun break from full time education, something which is very important to avoid burnout. So sign up for that society or club you’ve been considering or start that new hobby, as it has countless benefits and could be something you really enjoy!