Whether you're applying to schools in the US, UK, Canada, or Australia, staying ahead of these trends can give you a major edge, and save you some unnecessary stress for the 2025-2026 cycle.

So, you’re thinking about college applications and wondering, “Do extracurricular activities really matter?” The answer: YES—but maybe not in the way you think.

If college is on your radar, don’t wait until senior year to start thinking about applications. The earlier you start preparing, the more options you’ll have—and the less stressful the whole process will be.

Passion isn’t hiding somewhere, waiting for you to “find” it. It’s something you grow by being curious, putting in the work, and sticking with things—even when they’re hard.

Extracurriculars are a powerful way to showcase your unique strengths, interests, values, and skills. With college admissions being so competitive and too many activities to choose from, you’ve got to start now.

Since writing a list is so simple, some students rush ahead with the task without really thinking it through. You only get a limited number of characters. How do you make the most of them? 

Exploring new and existing interests, developing new skills, and learning more about yourself are critical to college application down-the-road.

A spike usually comes up in your extracurriculars, and can manifest in many ways.

Top colleges, including the Ivy Leagues, are looking for a very specific kind of student.