Is 3 Extracurriculars Good for High School Students?

Is three extracurriculars good? It’s a question parents and students ask every year as the school year kicks off. The answer isn’t simple - it’s not about the number. It’s about what those activities actually do for you.

More isn’t better - depth is

School counselors and college admissions officers don’t care if you joined 10 clubs. They care if you stuck with one long enough to lead it, change it, or make it mean something. Three extracurriculars can be perfect - if you’re actually doing something in them.

Think of it like this: joining the debate team, volunteering at the local food bank, and playing on the school soccer team is fine. But if you’re showing up to practice, showing up to meetings, and then ghosting the rest? That’s not involvement. That’s resume padding.

Colleges see through that. A 2024 survey by the National Association for College Admission Counseling found that 78% of admissions officers prioritize sustained commitment over a long list of activities. One student who ran the school’s tutoring program for two years, trained new volunteers, and raised $5,000 for supplies? That’s the kind of story that stands out. Three activities like that? That’s powerful.

What does three look like in real life?

Let’s say you’re in Year 10. You’ve got homework, part-time work, family obligations, and maybe some mental load from just trying to keep up. Adding three extracurriculars isn’t about checking boxes. It’s about choosing activities that:

• Align with your interests (not your parents’)
• Let you grow skills you actually care about
• Don’t burn you out by week three

For example: one student in Brisbane joined the school’s environmental club because they loved gardening. They started a composting program, got the council to fund bins, and turned it into a year-long project. That’s one activity - but it’s worth ten passive memberships.

Another student played cello in the orchestra, tutored kids in math after school, and helped run the school’s peer mental health hotline. Three very different things - but each one required responsibility, time, and emotional energy. That’s not overload. That’s intentional growth.

The burnout trap

Here’s the quiet crisis no one talks about: too many students think they need to do everything to be “competitive.” So they say yes to everything - robotics, drama, student council, debate, volunteering, language club, church group, part-time job - and then crash by mid-year.

A 2023 study from the University of Queensland tracked over 1,200 Year 11 students. Those with four or more extracurriculars were 42% more likely to report chronic stress, trouble sleeping, or dropping grades. The students with two or three - but deeply engaged - had better GPAs and higher satisfaction.

Three is often the sweet spot. It gives you variety without spreading yourself too thin. But if you’re skipping meals to make practice, or crying before school because you’re exhausted? That’s not dedication. That’s unsustainable.

What colleges really want

Colleges aren’t looking for robots who’ve done everything. They want people who’ve done something meaningful - and can prove it.

Here’s what they notice:

• Did you start something? (A club, a fundraiser, a peer mentoring group)
• Did you improve something? (Increased participation by 50%, got funding, changed a policy)
• Did you lead? (Even if you weren’t president - did you organize events, train new members, handle logistics?)

One student in Sydney didn’t just join the school newspaper - they redesigned the layout, trained new writers, and turned it into a digital platform that got 3,000 monthly readers. That’s one activity. That’s enough.

Three extracurriculars? Great - if each one has a story like that.

When fewer is smarter

What if you only have time for one? That’s okay.

Some students work 20 hours a week to help their family. Some care for siblings. Some are managing anxiety or depression. Those students aren’t less impressive - they’re more resilient.

Admissions officers know life isn’t fair. A single extracurricular done with real commitment - even if it’s just showing up every week to help at the community center - tells them more than three half-hearted memberships.

It’s not about quantity. It’s about honesty. If your one activity is your anchor - the thing that keeps you grounded, motivated, or alive - that’s the most valuable thing you can bring to college.

How to pick the right three

Here’s a simple filter to use before signing up:

1. Does this make me feel energized or drained? (If it’s the latter, reconsider.)
2. Can I see myself doing this in six months? (If the answer is no, skip it.)
3. Will this help me learn something I can’t learn in class? (Leadership? Problem-solving? Public speaking? Empathy?)

Don’t pick something because it looks good on paper. Pick it because it matters to you.

One student in Brisbane joined the school’s cooking club because they wanted to learn how to feed their younger siblings healthy meals. They didn’t win awards. But they started a weekly family meal program for low-income households. That’s impact. That’s the kind of thing that sticks.

Final thought: It’s not a race

There’s no trophy for having the most clubs. There’s no prize for being the busiest. The real win is becoming someone who shows up - consistently, thoughtfully, and with purpose.

Three extracurriculars? Perfect - if they’re yours. Not your parents’. Not your friends’. Not the ones you think colleges want to see.

If you’re doing three things that light you up, challenge you, and teach you something real - then yes. Three is more than good. It’s enough.