Which Extracurriculars Actually Matter for Admission to College Computer Science Programs?

Over the next decade, computer science careers are projected to flourish at a remarkably fast clip. As such, computer science is now an incredibly popular and selective major at many schools. It’s harder than ever to be accepted into prestigious programs, and once accepted, students are faced with a rigorous and demanding curriculum as well as a high attrition rate. Consequently, while high school preparation should involve upper-level math and science courses, it should also involve outside-of-the-classroom ventures.

If you’re an aspiring computer science student, it’s imperative to understand that you’ll likely face tougher admissions standards at many colleges. Let’s dive into how you can set yourself apart.

DURING HIGH SCHOOL, HOW CAN I SET MYSELF UP FOR SUCCESS DURING THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS?

While maintaining a strong academic record is most important, your extracurricular involvement can help signal your seriousness about a computer science major. However, this doesn’t mean that you need to sign up for anything and everything computer science-related! Instead, you should aim for deep involvement—or involvement that showcases long-term commitment, growth, and impact—in 2-4 activities total, including 1-2 pursuits directly related to your interests in computer science.

Ideally, these computer-science-related pursuits will:

1. Enable you to work on projects that develop your technical skills, such as coding and programming (preferred if you wish to develop a Maker Portfolio).
2. Help you build necessary soft skills, like problem-solving and attention to detail.
3. Teach you how to collaborate and communicate with others.

WONDERING WHERE TO BEGIN? WE RECOMMEND CHOOSING SEVERAL ACTIVITIES ACROSS THE FOLLOWING TIERS:

1st Tier: Competitive activities that result in a tangible award, publication, conference presentation, public accolade, or other special distinction in your area(s) of interest.
Attempt to engage in at least one 1st tier activity if possible.

2nd Tier: Activities that allow you to earn college credit, demonstrate mastery of relevant skills, acquire research or relevant job experience, and/or assume a leadership role or significant responsibilities over tasks that are directly related to your areas of interest.

3rd Tier: Activities that ultimately do not result in an award or leadership position, but that still allow you to accrue knowledge, skills, and/or experiences that have some connection to the field(s) you are considering. Though not as impactful as first or secondtier activities, these pursuits can still yield admission-related benefits.

1ST TIER ACTIVITIES:

• Compete in regional, national, or international CS competitions, such as: FIRST Robotics or USACO.
• Compete in one or more individual or team-based hackathons, such as: HackNYU or PennApps.
• Reach out to CS or STEM professors at any local two-year or four-year institutions to inquire about opportunities to assist with CS-related research.

2ND TIER ACTIVITIES:

• Join a well-established robotics team or CS, math, or physics interest club at your high school, with intentions to pursue a leadership role over time.
• Inquire about opportunities to assist your school’s IT staff.
• Pursue a job with CodeNinjas, Mathnasium, or a similar company that offers CS instruction to students.
• Take a college-level course in a programming language of your choice, such as Python, Java, C++, and/or HTML/CSS. If you opt to take a course, keep in mind that the prestige of the college matters far less than the course’s alignment with your academic interests. Therefore, don’t hesitate to prioritize course offerings that are affordable and convenient.
• Find an internship or volunteer position where you can use & develop your skills. For example, if your skills allow, reach out to local businesses and/or nonprofits to volunteer your services in the areas of web design or web development.
• Contribute to open-source projects, such as those available through GitHub, that would allow you to eventually showcase/link to completed projects inside your college application.

3RD TIER ACTIVITIES:

• Join robotics or an interest club in CS, math, or physics, regardless of whether you plan to pursue a leadership role.
• Pursue personal CS projects related to app/chatbot/website building or data analytics, particularly if those projects fulfill a need in your school or community.
• Use free platforms like freeCodeCamp, CS50 by Harvard (edX), Codecademy, or The Odin Project to learn a new coding language.
• Tutor your peers, younger students, and/or seniors in CS or a related area. Opportunities can often be pursued through your school or at your local library.
• Participate in a reputable CS-focused summer program, such as: Cooper Union Summer STEM or WPI Frontiers.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Successful computer science applicants show more than aptitude in math and coding—they demonstrate curiosity, persistence, and the ability to build and apply technical skills outside the classroom. By committing deeply to a small number of meaningful CS-related pursuits, students can signal both readiness for a demanding major and long-term engagement with the field. Admissions officers value evidence of problem-solving, collaboration, and real project work over sheer activity volume.