S5E4: Am I Doing Enough? The Right (And Wrong) Way to Approach Extracurricular Activities in Highschool

To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, apply for a free Family Action Call with us at admittedly.co/apply. In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel takes on one of the most misunderstood parts of college preparation: extracurricular activities. Parents often worry their students aren't doing enough, while students feel overwhelmed trying to "keep up" with friends who seem to be involved in everything. Drawing on nearly two decades of work in selective admissions, Thomas explains why the real problem isn't a lack of activities — it's a lack of intention. He breaks down what extracurriculars actually signal to admissions officers, why a long list of clubs rarely helps, and how students can create impact by going deeper on the things they genuinely care about. Thomas outlines a clear framework for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, showing how each year plays a different role in forming a student's academic identity and demonstrating curiosity, leadership, and growth. Through real examples of admitted students — from future engineers to artists to first-gen leaders — listeners learn how meaningful contributions often come from everyday opportunities like jobs, family commitments, summer projects, and community involvement. This episode is especially valuable for families navigating burnout, confusion, or pressure around extracurriculars, as well as students aiming for highly selective colleges where depth, impact, and authenticity matter far more than checking boxes. Key Takeaways: • Extracurriculars are about revealing who you are — not proving how busy you can be. • Depth and impact matter more than the number of activities on a list. • Freshmen should explore widely; sophomores should curate; juniors should deepen and lead. • Summers are a major opportunity to show academic interest through real experiences. • Jobs, family responsibilities, and community work carry significant weight in admissions. • The fastest way to fall behind is copying what other students do instead of following your own curiosity. Listeners can continue the conversation by following @admittedlyco on Instagram and TikTok, where Thomas answers questions and shares weekly admissions guidance. Additional tools, guides, and free resources to help your family approach this process with clarity and confidence can be found at admittedly.co. To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, visit admittedly.co/apply for a free Family Action Call.