How to Create a Passion Project That Stands Out in College Admissions

Let me show you 5 surprising at-home extracurriculars that can make a real impact on your college application. 

Well not so fast. You will have to do a little more than stay in your pajamas at home. There is always a catch when things sound too good to be true.  Take a look at what was previously printed on the Harvard admissions website.  It is a great way to understand the hard questions colleges like Harvard ask. Check out this post on how Harvard evaluates students to get the full picture.

1. Art Journaling: Express Yourself Creatively .

Let’s say you start an art journal and then even create a page on IG on which you amassed 200 followers.  Is it enough?  Are you getting accepted to your dream college?

Well let's check it against these questions we found on Harvard's website.

• Have you reached your maximum potential with your art journal? No

• Have you stretched yourself with your art journal? No

• Do you appear to have a genuine commitment? Probably not if you have only 200 followers.

• Will you contribute something to your Harvard classmates if you create the same art journal in college? Doubtful.

By the way, if you want a full guide to profile building, you can download it for free here.

Why Starting an Activity Isn’t Enough for Ivy League Admissions

Okay so I commend you for starting.  It is a big first step.  But, remember the Ivy League accepts less than 10%, so now that you’ve started you’re going to have to push yourself a little further. If you need help understanding which Ivy League to apply to, look here.

What truly matters is how you build upon it.  It is a little hard to interpret these very subjective questions asked by Harvard admissions so instead I created a framework that we use for all my students to help understand the value of an extracurricular.  

If you want to know the full details – check out this blog on the “Activity Evaluation Framework”.  But for now, let’s just consider the frameworks’ 5 key elements for evaluating activities.  Those 5 key elements are difficulty, impact, selectivity, self-initiative, honors, and awards. 

By the way, if you’re looking for a bit more guidance, I offer detailed courses that walk you through every part of the admissions process. Plus, I have exclusive downloads that give you access to the same information I share with my live teaching students.

So let’s go through those activities one more time and see how it stacks up in our framework.

How to Upgrade At-Home Activities Into Passion Projects So They Actually Matter

1. Art Journaling: Express Yourself Creatively

   
   

Starting: Visually express your daily thoughts, emotions, and ideas. Document your work digitally on Instagram or a blog.

Building It Further: If you want this activity to have real weight on your application, consider submitting your work to art competitions, exhibiting in online galleries, or even collaborating with other artists on a themed project. Winning awards or being featured in recognized platforms can make your work stand out in the admissions process.

2. Build a Graphic Design Portfolio

Starting: Take a Canva course & design posters and social media graphics for a local school or create a newsletter for an NGO

Building It Further: To make this activity more competitive, aim to get professional recognition. Apply for freelance projects, enter design contests, or secure an internship with a local business. If your work gets published, featured in a campaign, or awarded in a competition, it adds credibility to your skills and demonstrates real-world impact.

3. Virtual Tutoring: Share Your Knowledge

Starting: Use a platforms like LearnToBe to virtually tutor.

Building It Further: Instead of just tutoring a few students, scale your impact by starting a local tutoring initiative or nonprofit. Recruit other students to help, track your progress, and even apply for grants or scholarships to expand your reach. Recognition from educational institutions or partnerships with local schools can turn this into a powerful extracurricular achievement. To be a true leader, you need to achieve certain qualifications.

4. Youth Journalism: Write and Publish Your Thoughts

Starting: Start a blog or contribute to platforms like Teen Ink.

Building It Further: To add credibility, submit your work to national or international writing competitions, get featured in well-known publications, or secure an internship with a news outlet. If your articles gain traction, you can turn your writing into a campaign or advocacy project that creates measurable impact. If you are writing on academic topics, turn your work into a research paper like these 3 Harvard admits did.

5. Introductory AI and Tech Reviews: Create a Social Media Handle

Starting - Visually express your daily thoughts, emotions, and ideas. Document your work digitally on Instagram or a blog.

Building It Further: Beyond just posting content, engage with professionals in the tech space, interview AI experts, or participate in hackathons. If you gain a following, you can even monetize your platform, collaborate with educational brands, or get invited to speak at student tech events. This demonstrates not just knowledge but also initiative and influence in an emerging field.

If you want to check out other STEM extracurriculars beyond a passion project, you can find a list here.

Key Takeaway: Easy to Start Doesn’t Mean Easy to Win

So yes, you can unlock Ivy League doors from your bedroom.  And you absolutely can wear your pajamas.  But you are going to have to do more than just start.  Now, you need take your activities to the next level. Pick one of these activities, push it further using the Activity Evaluation Framework, and start building a college profile that truly stands out.

Honestly, if anyone tells you that doing “Easy Stuff” can get you into any selective college, then they are fooling you and you are fooling yourself.  Don’t believe me?  Check out this post on 3 admitted students to Harvard and MIT where we discuss actual stats of admitted students for various colleges.

If you want a step-by-step guide to evaluating and improving your extracurriculars, check out this article on extracurriculars that win.  I rank 50 extracurriculars — from average profile to Ivy League-level impact — so you can see exactly where you stand and how to improve.

Your Ivy League journey starts right now—from your own room. Let’s make it happen!

Still have questions? Book a call here.

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Common Questions About At-Home Extracurriculars

Do Ivy League colleges accept at-home extracurricular activities?

Yes—but only when they show initiative, growth, and real impact. Simply starting an activity is not enough.

Are online or Instagram-based activities taken seriously?

They can be, but only if they demonstrate scale, recognition, or influence beyond a small personal audience.  If you have only 25 views per post, it is hard to demonstrate impact.

How many extracurriculars do I need for Ivy League admissions?

Quality matters far more than quantity. One or two deeply developed activities often outperform long, unfocused lists.

What makes an extracurricular stand out to admissions officers?

Difficulty, initiative, impact, selectivity, and recognition. Colleges look for evidence that you pushed beyond the obvious.