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When Sara Scavongelli was in high school at Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, VA, she had one of the busiest schedules in her class. During her senior year, she served as editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, vice president of the student government association, and she tutored at a nearby elementary school. She also regularly attended meetings for about a half dozen other honor societies and clubs, and -- get this -- maintained straight As the whole time!

Although Sara's busy schedule played a part in her earning a full scholarship to the University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, she says there were times she felt overwhelmed by the constant amount of activity in her life. "I remember racing from one activity to the next in high school, and sleep always got the short end of the deal. But there wasn't anything I wanted to give up -- not friends, not schoolwork, not any of my extracurricular commitments," she says.

Although Sara was successful in high school, not all students can manage the stress of a hectic schedule. As a result, some often see their involvement taking a severe toll on their grade point averages. They've got tons of extracurricular activities under their belts, but no decent grades to show admission officers. When students join groups with the intention of beefing up applications, to the extent of becoming "activity addicted," it can become a problem...

Where Do You Fit In?
In high school, you're encouraged to get involved in extracurricular activities. The more sports teams and clubs -- like the school newspaper or student government -- you're in, the better. There even exist unofficial "groups" based on how much you do: Students who are not involved at all, and students who do everything they think they can fit into 24 hours. Unfortunately, those on both sides can end up with problems in the College admission process. It's obvious what predicament students who are completely uninvolved can end up in, but for those busy-bees who are too involved, the toll can sometimes be worse.

Extracurricular Misconceptions
College admissions officers from across the country will say they are looking for students with high grades in challenging classes, as well as students who are involved in activities, especially if they hold leadership positions in those activities. For many students, this means they need to get as involved in as many activities as possible, and rise to the top in each.

However, activities alone, will not get students into college, says Terri Androutsos, district coordinator of counseling services at Council Rock High School in Newtown, PA. "Their GPAs, courses taken, and strength of each curriculum [are taken into account]. The activities help show a balance in their lives, and their ability to work with others."

Of course, that's not to say well-chosen activities are not a good place to direct your efforts. Sara Depczenski, a Guidance Counselor at Lake Braddock, sees extracurricular activities of overall benefit. "Students have the opportunity to take risks, learn from their mistakes, see adults in a variety of roles, appreciate the different 'intelligences' of their classmates, interact with the Financial 'world of work,' and be creative," she says.

Quality Over Quantity
Depczenski also notes that too much of a good thing can be bad. "Students can be stretched too thin and not be able to follow through on commitments," she says. "Generally, their academics suffer, or they do not make the impact they had wanted. After all, there are only 24 hours in a day."

The most logical answer would be to choose which activities mean the most, and get involved in them. Of course, this can be harder than it sounds. What if you're a naturally excited learner who finds yourself interested in a wide range of areas, and you attend a larger school with an enormous number of activities from which to choose? Therein lies the problem.

Find Yourself
So how do you choose between being the president of the school chapter of the National Honor Society, captain of the tennis team, or editor-in-chief of the yearbook staff? Depczenski offers some advice.

"If your natural abilities match the activity, such as sports, music, and theater, then participation will enhance and broaden your skills," she says.

Help yourself figure out which activities are best for you by getting involved in slightly more competitive activities. "Interests can be triggered by 'trying out' for activities," she explains. "Think about your passions and goals for the future, and then try to match the extracurricular activities that meet those needs."

If you aspire to be a news anchor, for example, you might be better served working with the school's closed-circuit television station than with the French Honor Society. However, if you think you want to be an international diplomat, it's French Honor Society all the way!

The important thing is to develop an interest, rather than dabble in many. "Colleges would rather see a genuine focus and depth in one or two areas than superficial involvement in many," Depczenski says. "Students who believe that it is the quantity that matters, rather than the quality, are misguided."

Test-Run Activities Before You Sign Up
Despite how busy Sara was, she does not regret the hectic experience. "Looking back, I'm glad I had time to taste-test all those different activities. By trying almost everything, I got to see what I really like, and in college, I'm focusing on those activities. I enjoy having fewer commitments because I can devote a significant amount of time to them." But Sara admits that sleep still gets the short end of the deal.

Facing your "activity addiction" and finding a healthy balance may be one of the most challenging things you'll do as a college-bound student. In the end, however, deciding to give up an activity that's taking away from your academics can be beneficial to your College Applications, as well as to your own sanity.

"Balance in your life is extremely important," says Androutsos. "[You should be] learning priorities, keeping schoolwork first, and making sure you get extra help when needed in classes. Knowing when to say no when asked to take on yet another responsibility is important."

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