Research summary: trends and disparities in extracurricular activity reporting

Analyzing over 6 million activity descriptions from approximately 860,000 applicants during the 2018–19 and 2019–20 application seasons, the study found substantial differences in the number and nature of extracurricular activities reported across racial/ethnic and socioeconomic groups.

Key findings include:

• White and Asian applicants reported nearly 47% more activities than Black applicants. Higher socioeconomic status (SES) students reported 35% more activities than their lower SES peers.
• Applicants across all groups were similarly likely to report leadership positions or excellence awards within their activities. However, higher-SES, White, and Asian applicants tended to report a greater number of activities overall.
• Disparities were most pronounced in athletics, academic, service, and arts activities, reflecting differences in access to resources and opportunities.

These findings suggest that financial resources, school circumstances, and college readiness can influence extracurricular participation. Reviewing the quality of engagement, rather than focusing solely on quantity, helps promote equity in admissions.