“Can I keep playing basketball / tennis / soccer in high school? I like it but it takes a lot of time and I won’t be getting recruited for college.”

“Is it better to start a nonprofit or do a competitive summer program to get into the Ivy League?”

“I lie awake at night worrying about whether I’m doing enough to get into college.”

These are just some of the questions – and concerns – students and families have shared with me over the years.

First, I want to clear up a misconception. It’s come to my attention that there is (at least) one admission consulting firm that says it tracks data on its large pool of students to predict which specific extracurricular – i.e. inventing an app versus publishing research – has the highest success rate for entrance into a particular college.

I disagree with that premise — it's impossible to predict which exact activity appeals to a particular school the most.

And here's why: Institutional Priorities.

Among the most important factors in the college admissions process are Institutional Priorities. That means colleges have specific types of candidates they want at that point in time, like women in STEM, males studying music, or more full-pay students in the liberal arts. These Institutional Priorities change year to year, and since it can take several years to develop extracurriculars at the elite level that appeals to top schools, it's impossible to plan ahead so specifically.

With that being said, I’ve worked closely with high performing students for a decade and I’ve observed a lot. This past year, I had multiple students gain entrance into multiple Ivy-League level schools.

Here’s the framework I’ve created to advise my students on extracurriculars:

Authenticity

First, you must pursue your passions. These days, Ivy League-level schools are typically admitting students with extracurricular achievements at state, national or international levels. Achieving at that level requires an extraordinary investment of time and energy, both of which are in short supply in the high school years.

In addition to achieving at a high level, my students often have personal stories -- like the illness of a parent -- that lead to their passion projects. Authenticity drives their work.

Finally, it makes sense to invest your time in something that interests you and benefits your entire life, not just something that pads your resume.

Self Driven a.k.a. No Gatekeepers

I break down extracurriculars into two categories.

The first has gatekeepers - think math competitions, science fairs, academic publications, internships, jobs, competitive summer programs and the like. While these are all fine, and it definitely helps to win accolades, I don't restrict my students to these types of activities. Activities with gatekeepers can take extraordinary amounts of work, with no guarantee of payout (i.e. awards, publication, etc.) There's too much competition and results are uncontrollable.

I much prefer the second type of extracurricular: self-directed passion project.

Here are some examples from my students this year who had multiple Ivy League-level acceptances:

Student #1 - Admitted to MIT, Duke, Dartmouth, Rice (100% scholarship), Georgia Tech ($85k scholarship)

Invented a new type of biofuel from an invasive species. Researched and developed her own scientific question, methodology and determination of results. Worked alone in her own garage, with no mentor and no expensive lab equipment. Student used materials from her house and inexpensive supplies from Ebay, adapting them into fancy lab equipment substitutes.

This student's invention won first place in her state science fair and went onto international science fair, but the most impressive thing was she learned how to create this biofuel all on her own. Most science fair winners have the backing of extensively funded programs and mentorship.

Student #2 - Admitted to Harvard, UPenn, Columbia (with Egleston Scholar distinction), Northwestern, USC Iovine and Young Academy (Presidential Scholar, 50% tuition scholarship) UC Berkeley Management Entrepreneurship & Technology Program (2% acceptance rate)

Father had life threatening illness potentially caused by pollution, which led student to develop passion for clean energy. Student bought and converted a regular vehicle into an electric vehicle. Adapted and created custom-made parts for the car. Shared findings on YouTube channel which led to almost 100,000 views.

I like these examples because they're unique, and demonstrate creativity and drive.

And more importantly these projects help students develop skills that they’ll use for their entire lives. Projects like these teach students that they don’t need an elite school to “succeed”. If they got this far with few resources, mentorship and networks, they will be just fine.

More than fine.

Quantifiable Results

Many people have impressive achievements.

With non-gate kept opportunities, it’s important to find a way to demonstrate the impact of your work. If you can quantify your achievements, perhaps by sharing your work publicly in a way that allows for you to track impact - from views to listens to copies sold – you can set yourself apart from the tens of thousands of other students applying.

Who knows? Maybe you’ll develop a business idea that will help you bypass college altogether.

Help Others

In recent years, my students that seem to do the best with top-tier admissions are go getters who want to help humanity. They've taken concrete steps to fight global warming, cure cancer and increase access to STEM in underprivileged communities.

Top colleges not only want to admit people who will "be successful", they also want people who will positively impact the world.

Tell Stories about Your Work

Finally, remember that doing the work is only part of college admissions (and life). The more important part is getting your work out there.

If you can demonstrate the importance of your work by building a memorable narrative around why you do the work, you’ll see greater results.

The Institutional Priorities of elite schools are impossible to predict. If you identify and follow your own values, you will find success.

If you know students who've been admitted to Ivy League-level schools in recent years, what have you observed about their extracurricular activities? Also, if you’re past college, what extracurriculars have benefited your life?