Extra-curricular activities, also known as co-curricular or non-academic activities, are pursuits that students participate in outside the classroom and the regular school curriculum. Nowadays, most international universities consider these activities while offering admissions to students. So, let’s understand the importance of extra-curricular activities and other interesting information.

Key Highlights

• Importance of extra-curricular activities
• Discovering interests and passion
• Developing essential life skills
• Fostering friendships
• Personal growth and development
• Importance of extra-curricular activities in a student’s life
• Role of extra-curricular activities in education abroad
• The overall benefit of extra-curricular activities for university students
• Examples of extra-curricular activities

Importance of extra-curricular activities

The primary role of a student extends beyond acquiring academic knowledge to include learning new theoretical and practical concepts. These activities ensure students’ holistic growth by developing their life skills, relieving their stress, improving their academic performances, and allowing them to enjoy their life to the fullest.

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Importance of extra-curricular activities in a student’s life

Discovering interests and passion

Academic grades alone do not highlight the true potential of students. The key benefit of extra-curricular activities is that the students get opportunities to explore their interests, hone their skills, and make future career choices accordingly.

Developing essential life skills

When students engage in other activities, they learn essential life skills. For instance, playing any sport develops and promotes skills like goal setting, leadership, communication, teamwork, etc. These transferrable traits can help in navigating peer pressure and developing resilience.

Fostering friendships

An opportunity to meet like-minded peers and form friendships based on common interests is another advantage of participating in extra-curricular activities. These social connections foster a sense of belongingness and expose students to different perspectives.

Personal growth and development

Extra-curricular activities help students discover their passion, develop a commitment to their interest area, and imbibe values like caring and sharing through collaborative experiences. Moreover, such activities are crucial in developing students’ confidence and boosting their self-esteem.

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Role of extra-curricular activities in education abroad

If you are planning to pursue your higher studies abroad, your college application must stand out to secure a spot at your chosen varsity and program. Active participation in extra-curricular activities can make a big difference in your selection process.

Every year, universities receive several applications from students around the world. In such a scenario, the admission committee evaluates your application based on two factors: academic performance and your personality outside the classroom. Academic performance can be easily demonstrated through academic scores. However, to present yourself as a versatile applicant, it is necessary to show your interest and readiness to go beyond the classroom.

Therefore, you can include experiences and skills gained through active participation in different extra-curricular activities in your college resume. This will lead to an impressive student profile and give a clear picture of your true potential to the admission committee.

The overall benefit of extra-curricular activities for university students

Some advantages of extra-curricular activities for university students include personal development, enhanced social skills, and improved employability through the acquisition of practical experience and the cultivation of teamwork & leadership abilities. Moreover, when students participate in extra-curricular activities, they try to maintain a balance between their academic coursework and their interests. This helps them learn time management skills, too.

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Examples of extra-curricular activities

• Participating in sports clubs to learn swimming, basketball, hockey, etc.
• Joining academic clubs to be actively involved in debate and other competitions
• Volunteering for community service like cleanliness drives, marathons, etc.
• Taking part in artistic pursuits such as arts and music competitions
• Internship or part-time work opportunities
• Getting involved in college activities by becoming a student representative to organise events

Please bear in mind that both educational achievements and extra-curricular involvement are key to your overall growth. Moreover, extra-curricular activities are about quality, not quantity. Therefore, try to include the activities in your application that align with your interests. This will increase your chances of securing a spot at your chosen varsity.

If you are facing any financial constraints while planning your study abroad journey, you can apply for a loan for education. At Avanse Financial Services, we offer customised education loans that provide multiple benefits, such as 100% finance, flexible repayment options, and fast loan sanctions. To know about the interest rate for an education loan, the education loan calculator, and more, please contact us today.