“I believe people make these unpassionate passion projects because of competition and pressure,” Delaney Pfleghardt (’26) said. “There is a lot of need to stand out on college applications and starting a club can help.”

Northern Virginia contains some of the most competitive high schools in the country. Classmates are seen as competition as they build their resumes from a young age. Having a good GPA and a high SAT score seem to be generic accomplishments, causing students to build a relationship with extracurriculars to view them as a tool to get into college. Clubs have been transformed from positive service actions to seemingly an item on a checklist. Passion projects like starting clubs or non-profits are becoming a requirement to get into a high ranked school, taking away from the sincerity of these gatherings.

“Being at the club fair and seeing all of the freshmen really excited to join every club that interests them and make new friends with their same passion made me realize that people need a space to be able to be themselves at this school,” Sonya Rooney (’27) said. 

Many students are excited by the shocking number of clubs offered in high school and sign up for multiple events at the activities fair each year. In reality, many of these clubs are not properly run and have little activities. 10% of 218 surveyed students admit to starting a club for the sole purpose of improving college applications. The aspect of improving the community in service projects has been lost in these clubs. 

When it comes time for these club meetings, some students walk into a classroom filled with only a couple of students. This is normally one friend group containing the president, vice presidents, social media manager, treasurer and some other positions that might not seem necessary. 

80% of 218 students experienced attending a club just to realize it has no real activities, and 70% noted attending a club that has made up leadership positions. This number is shockingly high and reflects poorly on the integrity of Madison clubs. While an accomplishment that should not be overlooked, it should not be normalized for students to start programs, especially if they are not doing so properly. It sets up a sense of false hope for attendees, who can be scared to approach club leaders if they are all close friends who seem less interested in their club’s service.

Whether it be a job, club or volunteer program, these activities hold the same weight in an application. A recommendation letter from a counselor is required in the college application process. Counselors use involvement in extracurriculars as a way to display students’ character. 

When asked about what colleges look for in extracurricular activities, counselor Nicholas Lalone said, “It’s okay to have different things, but have them be authentic and also something you are genuinely interested in than a filler on the common app.”

This contrasts many students’ presumptions of what admission officers are looking for. Students’ commitment to a project, regardless of their role, shows dedication to a cause. Admissions officers are looking for effort and interest, and they can tell when students are merely trying to complete the extracurriculars box on their applications.

“If it turns out they write in their common app where it says the amount of time spent, and they say four hours over four months, it kind of loses its authenticity as being like an actively engaged member of a thing,” Lalone said.

Passion projects can be a good way to show interest whether it be community service or educationally related, but it is not required to get into college.

Clubs should be a safe, productive space for attendees. Unfortunately, the majority of students have encountered clubs that have not been as welcoming or well-directed, polluting their image. Considering their lasting impact on the school, students should plant with the future impacts of their clubs on the school in mind. 

“[Students should consider] how [they] will keep [clubs] going once [they’re] gone… How is it something that will continue to function either as an arm of another existing club, or something the community can keep going,” Lalone said.