“How Many Extracurricular Activities are Enough?”
When you’re a junior or senior, every conversation somehow turns into the college talk.
“What’s your SAT score?”
“Are you taking AP classes?”
“What clubs are you in?”
I remember sitting in the cafeteria as my friend rattled off her list: varsity soccer, two clubs, debate team captain, tutoring on weekends, plus a part-time job at Starbucks. By the time she finished, I felt like crawling under the table.
All I had was school, a volunteer gig I did once a month, and my love for playing violin. It didn’t feel like enough.
Was I falling behind?
The Myth of “More is Better”
College counselors, parents, and social media can make it seem like your application needs to look like a professional résumé before you even turn 18. It’s easy to start thinking you need ten activities, four leadership roles, and a trophy just to get noticed.
But here’s the thing no one tells you: it’s not about how many activities you do—it’s about what they mean to you.
I used to sign up for random clubs just to fill my “college list.” French Club? Sure. Environmental Committee? Why not. But I didn’t care about half of them. After a while, I felt stretched thin and, honestly, burned out.
One night while trying to finish homework after a club meeting, I realized I wasn’t enjoying any of it. I was just… collecting checkboxes.
When Extracurriculars Take Over
For a lot of teens, balancing school with activities feels like an impossible juggling act. You might start with one sport or one hobby, but suddenly your schedule looks like this:
- Practice three nights a week
- A part-time job on weekends
- Club meetings during lunch
- Music lessons squeezed into your only free time
And all the while, you’re still expected to keep grades up, have a social life, and somehow sleep.
I’ve been there—where you’re so tired from practice you can’t focus on homework, and so stressed about homework you stop enjoying practice. It feels like no matter where you are, you’re falling behind somewhere else.
What I Learned About “Enough”
- Depth matters more than quantity
Colleges don’t want a laundry list of activities—they want to see what you care about and how you’ve grown from it. Playing guitar in my room for years eventually became more interesting to admissions officers than joining random clubs I barely attended. - Passion is your best extracurricular
If you love something—sports, art, coding, community work—lean into that. Don’t force yourself into 10 things just to look impressive. - You need room to breathe
If your schedule is so full you have no time to rest or just hang out with friends, that’s a sign you’re doing too much. Balance isn’t a luxury—it’s what keeps you from burning out. - Work experience counts too
Part-time jobs teach responsibility and independence in ways that are just as valuable as sports or music. Don’t underestimate that. - It’s okay to say no
You don’t have to join every activity that comes your way. Choose the ones that truly matter to you.
If You’re Asking “How Many Is Enough?”
The truth? There’s no magic number.
For some people, one or two activities that they love is enough. For others, three or four. What matters is the story they tell about you—your interests, your dedication, your growth.
If you’re exhausted trying to do it all, pause and ask yourself:
Am I doing this because I want to—or because I’m afraid of not being enough?
Because here’s the truth:
You are already enough.
No college or résumé can define that.
Are you addicted? Are you under stress? Need to talk to someone? Text “HELLO” to 741741 or visit Crisis Text Line. Trained crisis counselors are available 24/7 to help you with your stress.
