Part B: Information Matching (2024)

High school students eager to stand out in the college application process often participate in a litany of extracurricular activities hoping to bolster their chances of admission to a selective undergraduate institution.

However, college admissions experts say that the quality of a college hopeful’s extracurricular activities matters more than the number of activities he or she participates in.

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Sue Rexford, the director of college guidance at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, says it is not necessary for a student filling out the Common Application to list 10 activities in the application. “No college will expect that a student has a huge laundry list of extracurriculars that they have been passionately involved in each for an extended period of time,” Rexford wrote in an email.

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Experts say it is tougher to distinguish oneself in a school-affiliated extracurricular activity that is common among high school students than it is to stand out while doing an uncommon activity. “The competition to stand out and make an impact is going to be much stiffer, and so if they’re going to do a popular activity, I’d say, be the best at it,” says Sara Harberson, a college admissions consultant.

High school students who have an impressive personal project they are working on independently often impress colleges, experts say. “For example, a student with an interest in entrepreneurship could demonstrate skill and potential by starting a profitable small business,” Olivia Valdes, the founder of Zen Admissions consulting firm, wrote in an email.

Joseph Adegboyega-Edun, a Maryland high school guidance counselor, says unconventional extracurricular activities can help students impress college admissions offices, assuming they demonstrated serious commitment. “Again, since one of the big questions high school seniors must consider is ‘What makes you unique?,’ having an uncommon extracurricular activity vs. a conventional one is an advantage,” he wrote in an email.

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Experts say demonstrating talent in at least one extracurricular activity can help in the college admissions process, especially at top-tier undergraduate institutions. “Distinguishing yourself in one focused type of extracurricular activity can be a positive in the admissions process, especially for highly selective institutions, where having top grades and test scores is not enough,” Katie Kelley, admissions counselor at IvyWise admissions consultancy, wrote in an email. “Students need to have that quality or hook that will appeal to admissions officers and allow them to visualize how the student might come and enrich their campus community.”

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Extracurricular activities related to the college major declared on a college application are beneficial, experts suggest. “If you already know your major, having an extracurricular that fits into that major can be a big plus,” says Mayghin Levine, the manager of educational opportunities with The Cabbage Patch Settlement House, a Louisville, Kentucky, nonprofit community center.

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High school students who have had a strong positive influence on their community through an extracurricular activity may impress a college and win a scholarship, says Erica Gwyn, a former math and science magnet program assistant at a public high school who is now executive director of the Kaleidoscope Careers Academy in Atlanta, a nonprofit organization.

Questions & Options

41. Sue Rexford

42. Sara Harberson

43. Katie Kelley

44. Mayghin Levine

45. Erica Gwyn

[A]Students who stand out in a specific extracurricular activity will be favored by top-tier institutions. 

[B]Students whose extracurricular activity has benefited their community are likely to win a scholarship. 

[C]Undertaking too many extracurricular activities will hardly be seen as a plus by colleges. 

[D]A student who exhibits abilities in doing business can impress colleges. 

[E]High school students participating in a popular activity should excel in it. 

[F]Engaging in uncommon activities can demonstrate students’ determination and dedication. 

[G]It is advisable for students to choose an extracurricular activity that is related to their future study at college. 

答案解析 (Answers & Explanations)

41. [C] Undertaking too many extracurricular activities...
解析：定位 Sue Rexford。她提到不一定要填满10个活动（not necessary... to list 10 activities），且没有大学期望学生有一大串清单（No college will expect... huge laundry list）。这对应 [C] 选项“承担太多课外活动很难被大学看作是加分项”。

42. [E] High school students participating in a popular activity should excel in it.
解析：定位 Sara Harberson。她提到如果要参加流行活动（popular activity），就得做最好的那个（be the best at it）。对应 [E] 选项“参加流行活动的学生应该在其中表现优异”。

43. [A] Students who stand out in a specific extracurricular activity...
解析：定位 Katie Kelley。她提到在一种专注的活动中脱颖而出（Distinguishing yourself in one focused type...）对于顶尖院校（highly selective institutions / top-tier）是一个加分项。对应 [A] 选项。

44. [G] It is advisable... related to their future study at college.
解析：定位 Mayghin Levine。她提到如果已经知道专业（know your major），拥有一个契合该专业的课外活动（fits into that major）是大加分项。对应 [G] 选项“建议选择与未来大学学习相关的课外活动”。

45. [B] Students whose extracurricular activity has benefited their community...
解析：定位 Erica Gwyn。她提到对社区有强烈积极影响（strong positive influence on their community）的学生可能赢得奖学金（win a scholarship）。对应 [B] 选项。