With the pressure of taking advanced placement (AP) courses or preparing for the SATs, many high school students may not become involved in activities or clubs outside of school. But extracurricular activities are important in high school, especially for those students who intend to move onto college. Colleges look at academic performance as well as a student's involvement on campus or in the community. Listed below are several ways for a student to become involved.

Clubs

Many high schools offer a variety of clubs for students to choose from. Students interested in participating in community service activities with other students may want to consider a club like Key Club www.keyclub.org. Other students may want to help within their school community and might consider joining ASB (associated student body government) or Best Buddies, www.bestbuddies.org, which places students in mentoring roles for students with disabilities. Students may also choose clubs that focus on their hobbies such as learning a foreign language or playing computer games. If the school doesn't have a club for the student's interest, he could speak with a teacher and petition for the club to be created.

Sports

The types of sports available for students to play vary depending upon the school. Most schools have basketball, football, baseball, softball, and soccer teams. If the school doesn't have a sport your student is interested in, or if he is unable to make the team, he might consider joining a league sponsored by the local community center. Often, community centers offer a variety of sports for students of various ages. Those interested in high school sports may want to visit HighSchoolSports.Net www.highschoolsports.net.

Work

Having a part-time job is another excellent way for a student to get involved in the community. Part-time jobs are a good way for students to develop work skills and learn how to interact in a grown-up environment. Some students may choose volunteer jobs such as tutoring. Part-time and volunteer jobs may show college admission boards how responsible and mature a student is since a job involves an array of responsibilities. For more information on student jobs, try Job Star, jobstar.org or Enterprise for High School Students, www.ehss.org.

Whether a student joins a club, plays a sport, or has a part-time job, students should select activities based on personal interests. Choosing something that interests you makes the experience more enjoyable and beneficial.