Extracurricular Activities Provide an Extra Competitive Edge

As someone who consistently had law school in the back of their mind throughout my undergraduate degree, the need to work hard in school in order to gain a competitive edge never escaped me. The same applies for most professional and graduate degrees including MBA programs – a high academic track record is a basic requirement of any application.

What students often forget, however, is the importance of all other aspects of one’s application, such as one’s résumé and personal statement. One’s academic excellence can easily be gleaned from a school transcript – this is rarely, however, a differentiating factor. As previously stated, high academic standing is expected and so, all applicants and all admitted students should have GPAs within the same range.

What makes you different is your experiences – the kind you might have through extracurricular activities and volunteering, for example. These types of experiences are not only important to giving you a competitive edge  when applying to graduate programs, but also when applying to enter the workforce and gaining valuable skills like time management.

Initially, I began engaging in volunteering and extracurricular activities as a means to take my mind off school. I have never been an individual who was able to sit still and yet, I thrive off productivity and engagement. I also had a keen interest in networking; I was, after all, beginning a new chapter of my life in a completely new environment. Importantly, what I did not realize was that what I was busy taking enjoyment in was also what was giving me a competitive edge for my law and MBA applications and ultimately, my career

The following three tips are meant to navigate you through life beyond academia in an effort to give you the competitive edge you deserve and perhaps some peace of mind and a welcome break from books in the process.

Get involved in activities that interest you

In the first year of my undergraduate degree, I joined McGill Dance Pack, a hip hop dance team at McGill University that performed at charity events such as Watercan, CASCO and Phassion, as well as being part of the McGill Redmen and Martlet sports teams. Why? Because I love to dance and I wanted to meet people who also like to dance. That answer may sound simplistic, but if you are passionate about something, you need no further reason to partake.

I worked my way up the ranks in the team to become a choreographer and eventually, president of the team. I learned the value of hard work and leadership whilst making long-lasting friends and having a blast. Does McGill Dance Pack represent an obvious segue to a Law/MBA program? Definitely not. That said, the skillsets I developed throughout the process–leadership, delegation, organization, teamwork and communication – are all transferable and necessary competences to any professional or graduate program.

Also, to play on the famous Field of Dreams quote: If you love it, programs will know. Passion can be felt in one’s writing and there is nothing more appealing to a program’s admissions team than reading a statement and feeling that passion as if it’s their own. That fire in your belly is contagious and can only be fueled by something you actually take an interest in – so make it count and enjoy in the process!

Take the time – pencil it in

As I mentioned earlier, people often let extracurricular activities and volunteering fall to the wayside in favor of extra time for hitting the books. Stresses levels are high – I get it! I have definitely been there, and time management is essential. However, there is something to say for taking breaks, and as I have mentioned in previous posts, there is no better way to ensure you take those well deserved breaks than writing them down.

For me, nothing gets done unless I make a point of writing it down in my agenda. Organization is key to time management and ultimately, your sanity. The written word adds prominence to the task or responsibility at hand – if you know that you have dance practice at 8pm, you will make a point of hitting the books hard from 6-7:45pm. Procrastination has met its match in your scheduling tool. You can be the ‘yes’ person you want to be if you just utilize time management and properly plan out your days.

This is not to say you should take things on that you have no interest in; remember Tip #1! But, if you are like me, you have diverse interests and curiosity to boot. Variety is the spice of life – don’t kill yourself but take advantage of the amazing opportunities your university or wider community affords you!

Be actively involved

If you love a club or organization where you are volunteering or pursuing extracurricular activities, really get to know the people who run it and really take advantage of all the group has to offer by networking. Often, people will join clubs passively. They receive email blasts from the group once a week, perhaps they go to some events, but they don’t attempt to really interact with the executives of said group or the other members.

Sometimes this is at the fault of the executive team – after all, it is partially their job to keep you engaged. However, it takes two to tango especially, if that is the tango of networking. Ask and you shall receive. If you want to take on more of a leadership role, get in contact with the club’s president. If you have ideas for the team and leadership is lacking, speak with other members who are in agreement with you to create a cohesive voice. This type of active involvement is important for three reasons: one, it is the kind of involvement that fuels and reflects the passion graduate programs are looking for, two, it gives your ‘breaks’ from school work more purpose – which makes you more inclined to take them, and thirdly, it allows you the opportunity of networking with your peers in ways that are oftentimes inconceivable in large universities. Take the leap and be active!