Extracurriculars
Extracurriculars That Stand Out — High School & University
Join purpose-driven clubs, competitions, and programs in Canada, the U.S., and worldwide.
What Admissions & Employers Value
- Depth over breadth: 2–4 activities where you grew into leadership > 12 one-off signups.
- Impact: show outcomes (funds raised, attendees, research results, awards, policy changes, users).
- Initiative: start something new, revive a dormant club, or scale an existing program.
- Public proof: websites, portfolios, GitHub/Devpost, publications, media mentions.
High School: Great Clubs & Competitions
Speech, Debate & Diplomacy
- National Speech & Debate Association (US)
- Model United Nations (global conference finder)
- Toastmasters Gavel Clubs / community clubs
Business, Entrepreneurship & Finance
- DECA (high school + collegiate)
- Enactus (social entrepreneurship)
- Junior Achievement
STEM, Engineering & Data
- FIRST Robotics / VEX Robotics
- HOSA–Future Health Professionals
- Major League Hacking (MLH) hackathons
- Science fairs & competitions (national directories)
Civics, Service & Leadership
- Key Club / Rotary Interact
- Red Cross (Canada) • Red Cross (US)
- UNICEF school clubs / volunteering
Arts, Media & Culture
- School newspaper / podcast / film club (publish on a website or YouTube for public proof)
- Community theatre, dance, orchestra, or visual arts shows (apply for leadership: stage manager, producer, curator)
Pro tip: Don’t see the club you want? Pitch your school a proposal with goals, calendar, budget, and a staff sponsor. That’s leadership.
University: Level Up Your Impact
Consulting, Product & Case
- Enactus (social ventures with measurable outcomes)
- 180 Degrees Consulting
- Product camps & student PM clubs
Tech Engineering & Research
- ICPC programming contests • Devpost hackathons
- Formula Student / Formula SAE • Hyperloop student teams
- iGEM (synthetic biology)
- IEEE student branches
Global, Policy & Social Impact
- University Model UN conferences
- Amnesty International student groups
- AIESEC (global leadership & internships)
Communication & Leadership
- Toastmasters (on-campus or nearby community clubs)
- Campus media (radio, magazine, journal) — take on editorial or station leadership roles
Make it count: Track impact each term (members recruited, events run, funds raised, users reached), then publish a recap post or portfolio page.
United States: Where to Find Opportunities
- NSDA (Speech & Debate) • Model UN conferences
- DECA • FBLA (business & leadership)
- FIRST Robotics • VEX (engineering)
- HOSA (health) • Girls Who Code
- Key Club • National Honor Society
- National/Regional Debate Leagues • MLH Hackathons
International: Join or Compete from Anywhere
- Model UN (global circuit) • World Schools Debate
- Enactus (global social enterprise) • AIESEC (leadership & internships)
- iGEM (synthetic biology) • ICPC (programming)
- Global online hackathons (year-round)
- Rotaract