Your Interests and Activities

College would be a pretty dull place if only those students who liked to sit in a library and read were admitted. Admissions officers are looking for more than just students who are capable of earning good grades. US colleges in particular are looking for students who will bring a spark to a class discussion, who will start a new club, who will sing in an acapella group, or who will make the residence hall a better place to live.

One US admissions officer once said, "When I'm considering an applicant, I try to decide whether this is the kind of student I would want as my son or daughter's roommate." Obviously, being a good roommate is not something that can be determined by looking only at a transcript. Most schools realize a GPA does not make up the total student.