What Extracurriculars Get You Into UC Schools? (3 Real Examples)
- Tina Chulet
- Apr 17, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Ever wonder what kind of student actually gets into a college like USC? Valedictorian? Sports captain? Nobel Prize winner? Let’s talk about real students—the ones with SAT scores in the 1400s or ACT scores in the low 30s—because that’s where doubts tend to creep in. Are those scores good enough? Are you already too late?
In this breakdown, you’ll meet three real students who got into the University of Southern California (USC). Their profiles are all different, and that’s the point. If you’ve been stressing about finding the perfect path into a top U.S. college, this might be the reality check you need.
Stick around till the end. I’ll share the biggest weakness I see in my students—and the follow-up course that helps you avoid that trap.
Meet the Students Who Got In
Student 1: The Slime Entrepreneur
Academics
Grades: Mostly A’s, one B
SAT: 1470
Rank: No official class rank
Honors & Awards
Academic Excellence Award (90%+ in 4 subjects)
Male Leadership Award at school
Multiple cross-country team & individual wins
Extracurricular Activities
Launched a slime business with over 300K followers on Instagram
Published a slime-based research paper
Conducted community science education using slime
Vice President of Student Government
Sports
Captain of Cross-Country and Track & Field teams
Student 2: The Debater and Policy Advocate
Academics
CBSE Score: 93%
ACT: 32
Took 2 AP exams
Extracurricular Activities
Debate Team Captain
Qualified for Nationals at The Hindu International Debate
Best Delegate at Harvard MUN India
Writing
Regional Winner in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Policy Advocacy & Leadership
Secretary, High School Student Government
Volunteer with NSUI (National Students’ Union of India)
100+ hours in digital campaigning
50+ hours advocating for girls’ education (ages 5–10) in government schools
Led 14 voter registration drives on college campuses
Student 3: The Coder and Environmental Leader
Academics
SAT: 1510
Grades: Mostly A’s, one B
Class Rank: 23 out of 385
Extracurricular Activities
Coding & Innovation
Co-founded a school coding club
Won 2 regional and 1 national hackathon (IIT Guwahati)
Tutoring & Social Impact
Founded Gold Tutoring—hired peers to teach English to domestic workers’ children
Leadership & Activism
4 years in Student Council
Secretary for Climate Change initiatives
Organized urban clean-up drives
Model UN
Participated in local and Harvard MUN; received team honors
So, What’s the Common Thread?
Strong Academics First Despite diverse interests, all three students had strong grades and test scores. At the end of the day, college is still an academic pursuit.
Clear Demonstration of Excellence Through awards, honors, or leadership, each student found their lane and excelled in it.
Time Well Spent These students clearly used every second of high school. They didn’t waste time; they built their story.
They Met the Bare Minimums (Not sure what this means? Read the linked blog: What’s the Bare Minimum to Get Into a Top 50 U.S. College?)
While they focused on different fields—slime, policy, coding—they each explored a variety of passions. By the way, if you are also interested in NYU, check out some student profiles here.
But Here’s the Twist...
When you look closely, what they actually did—which awards they won or clubs they joined—was completely different. So when we say there’s no one path to admission success, we’re not just being motivational. We’re being honest. That’s why college profile-building strategies for top US universities must be personalized. There’s no copy-paste formula.
So What Should You Do?
Chase what you love. You are far more likely to stand out when you spend time doing something meaningful to you. Let’s be real—can you really commit 100+ hours to something you dislike?
The Greatest Weakness I See in Student Applications
It’s the extracurricular profile. Many students focus on lower level activites that don't move the needle. That’s why I recommend you go understand first how activities are evaluated.
It’s part of my larger series, Profile Building 101, and it breaks down exactly how to create the kind of profile that stands out to U.S. college admissions officers.
Ready to Take Action?
If you're serious about US college admissions and want to take the guesswork out of your journey to study abroad in USA, check out my full course lineup. You’ll also get access to downloads to make your application process much simpler.
Good luck—and keep coming back for real advice on building your dream college profile.
Let me know if you'd like a shorter teaser version or if you want me to prepare a second blog post with just the takeaways and lessons.
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Extracurriculars for UC & USC Admissions: Frequently Asked Questions
What extracurriculars help you get into UC and USC?
There is no single activity that guarantees admission. Strong applicants show depth, leadership, and impact in areas like business, debate, coding, or community initiatives.
What SAT or ACT scores do you need for USC?
Competitive applicants often have SAT scores in the 1400–1500 range or ACT scores in the low 30s, along with strong academic performance.
Do you need a specific type of extracurricular to get into UC schools?
No. Students are admitted with very different profiles, as long as they show commitment, achievement, and a clear direction in their activities.
What do successful UC and USC applicants have in common?
They typically have:
· Strong academics
· Demonstrated excellence (awards or leadership)
· Consistent use of time through meaningful activities
What is the biggest weakness in most college applications?
The most common issue is a weak extracurricular strategy, where students participate in low-impact or unstructured activities that don’t demonstrate growth or distinction.
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