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If you’ve ever wondered how to stand out in today’s competitive college admissions process, here’s a hint: Colleges are now placing increasing emphasis on something more personal and impactful—civic engagement.
So what exactly does that mean? It means showing that you care. That you take initiative. That, as a high school student, you’re someone who doesn’t just study hard but also works to make a difference in the community around you. For a deeper dive into why colleges care so much about this, check out our full guide on why youth civic engagement is important in college admissions.
Colleges receive tens of thousands of applications from academically talented students. However, only a fraction of those applicants demonstrate initiative and impact that extends beyond the classroom. That’s where civic engagement makes a difference.
This form of civic leadership shows your commitment, character, and readiness to contribute to a vibrant campus culture. Learn more about what top colleges look for beyond grades.
If you’re unsure, our Extracurricular Activities & Leadership Guide can help you align your strengths with the right kind of project.
Not sure where to start? Let us match you with a former admissions officer to help you identify your strengths and passions.
Want to get your generation involved in democracy? Organize a voter registration drive at your school or local community center. You can also lead civic literacy workshops, teach peers how to pre-register and even host mock elections.
You can take action by starting a community garden, building a seed library or organizing regular food drives. Consider partnering with local food banks or nonprofits to distribute your harvest. This project teaches students about sustainability, nutrition and social equity.
Create a peer tutoring program for your high school or offer free academic support to younger students. You can work with local libraries, after-school programs or English as a Second Language (ESL) students in your area. Customize lessons, develop worksheets or host small-group study sessions.
Lead an environmental initiative, such as organizing community clean-ups, starting a recycling drive or launching a school composting program. Partner with your city’s parks department or join larger campaigns like Earth Day.
Mental health is a rising concern among teens. Create a student wellness club, develop educational materials or host a school-wide mental health awareness week. You could also launch a podcast, write blogs or distribute infographics on topics such as stress management, anxiety and mindfulness. Partner with school counselors or local therapists to develop accurate and accessible content.
Tech-savvy? Put those skills to work by developing solutions that serve your community. Build an app that connects volunteers with local nonprofits, a website offering study resources or a digital campaign against cyberbullying. You can also create instructional videos for seniors on using tech or design a chatbot that shares voter registration tips.
Your creativity can be a powerful civic tool. Use art to amplify unheard voices or tell important stories. Paint a community mural that addresses a local issue, organize a spoken word showcase on justice or build a cultural archive collecting oral histories from elders in your neighborhood.
Host a health fair in partnership with local clinics or universities. Distribute hygiene kits, offer wellness workshops or create educational materials on basic health topics such as nutrition, hygiene and disease prevention. You could also volunteer at a community vaccination clinic or partner with a university research center.
If you care about issues like racial equity, gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights or immigration reform, turn that passion into impact. Create advocacy toolkits, write op-eds for your school paper or launch a human rights awareness campaign. You might lead school-wide discussions, speak at board meetings or coordinate community events.
Start a financial literacy club that covers topics such as budgeting, saving, investing and understanding credit. Host a workshop series, build an educational website, or post short explainer videos on YouTube or TikTok. You can also help local small businesses go digital or support minority-owned enterprises by providing free branding or marketing services.
Whether you’re planting a community garden, mentoring underserved students or coding an app for social good, what matters most is that you’re doing it for real—and for the right reasons.
As you embark on your civic journey, keep these four principles in mind:
Don’t go it alone. Work with local nonprofits, teachers or join our mentorship program for a 1–on-1 guidance. Schedule your consultation call here.
Tutoring or forming a school club are simple ways to begin.
It is not always a requirement. Colleges love it when students explore different passions. However, if you have an intended major, it would be great to connect that interest with your activities.
