Online Extracurricular Activities To Boost Your College Applications

Online extracurricular activities have transformed from pandemic-era necessities to permanent fixtures in the college preparation landscape. According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), extracurricular involvement ranks among the top factors colleges consider when evaluating applicants, alongside academic performance and course rigor.

College Admissions Expectations

The College Board emphasizes that extracurriculars demonstrate your interests, commitment, and ability to manage time effectively. Admissions officers look for sustained involvement and leadership rather than a long list of superficial activities. Quality trumps quantity, with meaningful engagement in a few areas proving more impressive than scattered participation across many.

Colleges want to see dedication, not just participation," notes the College Board. "They're looking for students who pursue their passions and make an impact, whether in person or online.

Adaptability and Initiative

Engaging in extracurricular activities online showcases your adaptability—a trait universities increasingly value. When faced with limited in-person options, students who find or create virtual alternatives demonstrate problem-solving skills and initiative. These qualities translate directly to college success, where self-direction is essential.

Skill Development

Online extracurriculars for computer science and STEM students develop both technical and soft skills:

• Hard skills include programming languages, data analysis, research methodologies, and technical writing.
• Soft skills encompass virtual collaboration, time management, digital communication, and remote leadership.

Together, these combined competencies prepare you not only for college coursework but also for future careers in increasingly remote and digital workplaces.

Equity and Access

Perhaps most importantly, online extracurricular activities democratize access to high-quality opportunities. Students in rural areas, under-resourced schools, or with mobility limitations can now participate in prestigious programs previously available only to those in specific geographic locations.

As Forbes notes, "Virtual extracurriculars have removed geographic barriers, allowing talented students from anywhere to access elite opportunities previously limited to those in major metropolitan areas or with significant financial resources."

Source: Forbes: Online Access to Extracurriculars

For a comprehensive overview of what top universities seek from applicants, especially regarding their academic profile and overall application strategy, check out this college application guide and our admission case studies featuring successful college applications.

The digital landscape offers diverse extracurricular activities online, each with unique benefits for college applications. Understanding these categories helps you select experiences that align with your interests and goals.

Virtual Academic Clubs and Competitions

Online academic clubs and competitions provide structured environments to develop and showcase your skills. For STEM extracurricular activities, options include:

• Math competitions through Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) host numerous online math contests, from beginner to advanced levels.
• Science bowls like the National Science Bowl now offer virtual participation options.
• Coding challenges through competitive programming platforms like Codeforces and LeetCode help build technical skills.

These activities demonstrate subject mastery while fostering healthy competition and community among like-minded peers.

Source: AoPS Online Math Competitions

Online Volunteering and Service

Virtual volunteering allows you to make meaningful contributions while developing professional skills. You might provide technical support by helping non-profits with website development, data management, or digital literacy training. Tutoring opportunities let you provide academic assistance to underserved students through platforms like UPchieve. Translation services using language skills to translate documents for international organizations are also valuable. Research assistance through contributing to citizen science projects rounds out these options. VolunteerMatch and the UN Online Volunteering platform connect students with reputable organizations seeking virtual volunteers.

Source: UN Online Volunteering

Remote Internships and Research

Remote research opportunities have expanded dramatically, allowing high school students to contribute to meaningful projects. University-affiliated programs offer virtual research experiences specifically for high school students. Citizen science initiatives let you contribute to large-scale data collection and analysis projects. Independent research conducting literature reviews or data analysis under mentor guidance builds valuable skills. For computer science extracurriculars, remote internships with tech startups or established companies provide real-world experience and professional connections.

Source: SSTEM: Online Research for High School

Open Source and Collaborative Projects

Contributing to open source projects represents one of the most valuable extracurriculars for computer science students. You can make code contributions by fixing bugs or adding features to existing projects. Documentation work improves user guides or technical documentation. Testing helps identify and report issues in software. GitHub's student developer pack provides resources to get started with open source contribution, including free access to developer tools and platforms.

Source: GitHub Guides for Students

You can also learn more about great computer science programs, admissions, and what top CS colleges look for in a comprehensive guide to top computer science programs in America.

Creative and Leadership Activities

Virtual creative and leadership activities develop communication and organizational skills. Online debate lets you participate in virtual debate tournaments and forums. Digital journalism involves contributing to online student publications. Virtual Model UN engages you in diplomatic simulations through platforms like Best Delegate. Student government opportunities allow you to lead virtual student organizations. These activities demonstrate your ability to collaborate and lead in digital environments—skills increasingly valued by colleges and employers.

Source: Best Delegate: Virtual Model UN

Founding Online Clubs or Organizations

Creating your own online initiative shows exceptional leadership and entrepreneurial spirit. Start by identifying a need by finding an underserved interest area or community. Then establish structure by creating a mission, meeting schedule, and participation guidelines. Build membership by recruiting peers through social media and school networks. Develop programming by planning engaging virtual activities and guest speakers. Finally, document impact by tracking participation, outcomes, and community benefit. Self-initiated extracurricular activities online particularly impress admissions officers, as they demonstrate vision and execution—qualities that translate to campus leadership.

If you're seeking unique and innovative extracurriculars that truly stand out, see our unique extracurricular activities guide.

For students pursuing computer science and STEM fields, certain online extracurricular activities offer exceptional value for skill development and college applications.

Computer Science Extracurriculars Virtual Hackathons Coding Competitions

Hackathons provide intensive, collaborative coding experiences that develop technical skills and problem-solving abilities. Major League Hacking (MLH), the official student hackathon league, hosts numerous virtual events throughout the year. Google Code-In, when running, introduces pre-university students to open source development. CodeDay offers 24-hour virtual programming events for beginners and experienced coders alike. These events simulate real-world development environments, teaching teamwork under pressure while creating portfolio-worthy projects.

Source: Major League Hacking (MLH) Hackathons

Online Computer Science Olympiads

Competitive programming develops algorithmic thinking and coding efficiency. The USA Computing Olympiad (USACO) runs four annual online contests with progressive difficulty levels. Kaggle Competitions offer data science challenges using real-world datasets. The International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) stands as the most prestigious international algorithmic programming competition for secondary school students. Regular participation in these competitions demonstrates commitment to computer science while building problem-solving skills valued in college coursework.

Source: USA Computing Olympiad

Want to pursue your studies at one of the top computer science colleges in the USA? Explore which schools are best for STEM applicants.

STEM Extracurricular Activities Open Source Contribution

Contributing to open source projects provides authentic software development experience. First Contributions offers beginner-friendly projects specifically designed for new contributors. Good First Issues are tagged issues in established projects appropriate for newcomers. Season of Docs facilitates technical writing contributions to open source documentation. The GitHub Student Developer Pack provides free access to developer tools and platforms, making it easier to get started with open source contribution.

Source: GitHub Student Developer Pack

Remote Research Opportunities

Virtual research programs connect students with mentors and meaningful projects. MIT PRIMES offers a research program in mathematics, computer science, and computational biology. The Research Science Institute (RSI) provides an intensive summer research program with virtual options. Polygence delivers personalized research mentorship with experts in various STEM fields. These programs develop research methodologies, technical writing skills, and connections with academic mentors—valuable assets for college applications.

Source: MIT PRIMES

Online STEM Courses and Certifications

Specialized courses demonstrate initiative and build college-relevant skills. Coursera offers university-level courses in programming, data science, and other STEM fields. edX provides courses from institutions like MIT, Harvard, and Berkeley. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies runs online courses for high school students in mathematics, physics, computer science, and more. Completing challenging courses beyond your school curriculum shows intellectual curiosity and readiness for college-level work.

Source: Coursera for High School Students

Showcase Platforms for Projects

Platforms to display your work enhance visibility and credibility. GitHub serves as the industry-standard repository for code projects. Devpost functions as a portfolio site specifically for hackathon and coding projects. A personal website or portfolio offers a customized showcase of your work and accomplishments. LinkedIn enables professional networking and skill verification. These platforms allow admissions officers to see tangible evidence of your skills and accomplishments.

Source: Devpost

If your goal is Ivy League or top 20 STEM admission, don’t miss the breakdown of the best extracurricular activities for Ivy League admissions—many highlighted are available online.

With countless options available, selecting the right extracurricular activities online requires strategic thinking about your interests, goals, and available time.

Interest Alignment

The most sustainable and impressive extracurriculars align with your genuine interests. Ask yourself some self-assessment questions: What topics do you explore in your free time? Which classes do you most enjoy? What problems do you want to solve? What skills do you want to develop? Interest exploration tools like CollegeVine's extracurricular quiz help identify activities matching your personality and interests. Authentic passion translates to deeper engagement and achievement—qualities admissions officers readily recognize.

Source: CollegeVine extracurricular quiz

Career and College Ambitions

Align extracurriculars for computer science with your intended major and career path. For Computer Science or Software Engineering, focus on coding competitions, open source contributions, and app development. Data Science aspirations pair well with Kaggle competitions, data analysis projects, and statistics competitions. Cybersecurity interests benefit from capture-the-flag competitions, security research, and ethical hacking challenges. AI and Machine Learning goals align with AI research projects, machine learning competitions, and robotics. This alignment demonstrates focused preparation for your chosen field, making your application more coherent and compelling.

If you'd like further insight on choosing a competitive application strategy for STEM and CS, explore our computer science program admissions guide and computer science colleges rankings and application strategies.

Quality vs Quantity

Colleges consistently value depth over breadth in extracurricular involvement. Focused commitment shows sustained participation with progression and increasing responsibility. Leadership development means taking initiative within organizations rather than passive membership. Measurable impact demonstrates tangible contributions and achievements within your activities. The Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) emphasizes that "colleges would rather see significant involvement and leadership in one or two activities than superficial participation in many."

Source: HECA on Extracurricular Impact

Leadership and Initiative

Even in virtual settings, leadership opportunities abound. Project management roles let you coordinate team efforts in hackathons or collaborative projects. Mentorship positions involve guiding newer participants in online communities. Content creation includes developing tutorials, documentation, or educational resources. Community building focuses on fostering engagement in virtual clubs or forums. Leadership roles demonstrate responsibility, communication skills, and the ability to work effectively with others—qualities universities seek in prospective students.

Real World Examples

Successful applicants effectively integrate online extracurriculars into their college applications. One student contributed to open source documentation for three years, eventually becoming a project maintainer and mentor for new contributors. Another participated in virtual research, progressing from data collection to co-authoring a published paper. A third founded an online coding club that grew to serve students across multiple schools, organizing virtual workshops and hackathons. These examples demonstrate progression, impact, and sustained commitment—key qualities that impress admissions committees.

Source: Examplit successful college applications

Looking for more ways to truly stand out? Browse our resource on unique extracurricular activities that impress top universities.

Effectively communicating the value of your online extracurricular activities requires strategic documentation and presentation.

Best Practices for Activity Descriptions

The Common Application provides limited space for activity descriptions, making concise, impactful writing essential. Use action verbs by beginning descriptions with strong verbs like "Developed," "Coordinated," or "Researched." Quantify impact by including specific numbers such as participants reached, hours contributed, or projects completed. Highlight leadership by clearly stating leadership roles and responsibilities. Show progression by indicating advancement from participant to leader when applicable. Specify skills developed by mentioning relevant technical or soft skills gained. For example: "Contributed code to open-source project with 500+ users; debugged 15 issues and implemented 3 new features; promoted to project maintainer after 6 months."

Source: Common App Activities Guide

Want help articulating your impact? See successful example essays, real activity descriptions, and more in our guide to writing a successful college essay and college application essays resource.

Tips Specific to OnlineVirtual Activities

Virtual extracurriculars require special consideration in applications. Clarify format by explicitly stating "virtual" or "online" to provide context. Explain scope by mentioning the geographic reach for global initiatives to highlight broader impact. Address challenges by briefly noting how you overcame obstacles specific to remote collaboration if relevant. Include platforms by mentioning established platforms like GitHub or Kaggle to add credibility. These details help admissions officers understand the nature and significance of your online involvement.

Using Evidence Effectively

Supporting documentation strengthens claims about online activities. Digital portfolios compile screenshots, code repositories, or project documentation. Certificates include completion certificates from courses or competitions. Recommendation letters from virtual mentors or program coordinators add credibility. Project links provide URLs to public projects or contributions when space allows. The National Association for College Admission Counseling notes that "verification of extracurricular activities has become increasingly important," making documentation particularly valuable.

Source: NACAC – College Application Extracurricular Verification

Presenting Personal Growth and Leadership

Essays and interviews provide opportunities to elaborate on the significance of your online extracurriculars. Connect to values by explaining how activities reflect your core values and interests. Describe challenges by discussing obstacles you overcame in virtual environments. Highlight collaboration by emphasizing teamwork across geographic and cultural boundaries. Articulate lessons by sharing insights gained through your experiences. These reflections transform activity listings into compelling narratives about your character and potential.

Source: Examplit application insights

For even more tips, view strategies for addressing weaknesses in college applications and making every activity—virtual or in-person—work in your favor.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Common mistakes in presenting online extracurriculars include exaggeration by inflating roles or contributions, which undermines credibility. Vagueness uses general descriptions rather than specific accomplishments. Undervaluing diminishes the significance of virtual activities compared to in-person ones. Omitting context means failing to explain unusual circumstances affecting participation. Honest, specific, and contextual presentation of your activities creates the most favorable impression with admissions committees.

Step-by-Step Action Plan

1. Self-assessment (Week 1)
   Start by identifying your interests, strengths, and college goals. Then evaluate your available time commitment and research activities aligned with your intended major.
2. Exploration (Weeks 2-3)
   Investigate platforms and organizations from the resource list. Join relevant online communities including Discord servers, forums, and social media groups. Attend information sessions for programs that interest you.
3. Selection and Application (Weeks 4-5)
   Choose 2-3 activities to start with. Prepare applications for selective programs and set up necessary accounts and tools.
4. Engagement (Ongoing)
   Establish a consistent schedule for participation. Document your contributions and achievements. Seek increasing responsibility over time.
5. Reflection and Adjustment (Quarterly)
   Evaluate impact and learning from each activity. Adjust involvement based on interest and effectiveness. Update your resume and portfolio with new accomplishments.

For STEM applicants planning ahead, having a well-organized application timeline is essential. Use this college application timeline guide to plan each step for a successful admissions journey.

Resource Table: Essential Platforms for Online Extracurriculars

Below is a table listing some essential online platforms for extracurricular engagement in coding, research, courses, volunteering, and leadership:

• Schedule monthly reviews of your activities and progress as part of regular reflection.
• Maintain a detailed log of contributions, achievements, and hours for documentation purposes.
• Update your GitHub, personal website, or digital portfolio regularly for portfolio building.
• Connect with mentors and peers in your activity communities to build your network.
• Monitor time commitments to maintain academic performance and keep a healthy balance.

Below is a curated list of top online extracurricular activities that build real-world skills in computer science and STEM. Each activity is paired with key skills and application tips.

Explore Examplit's library of successful applications to see how other students have effectively presented their online extracurricular activities. These real examples provide valuable insights into crafting compelling narratives around your virtual experiences.

Source: Examplit's library and guides

For additional recommendations on building your full college application—including essays, timelines, and selecting best-fit schools—be sure to explore our complete college application guide.