What kind of extracurricular activities or unique experiences should Singaporean students highlight to stand out in U.S. private school applications?

When it comes to identifying your extracurricular activities, remember that uniqueness counts. American private schools want to know you as a person. They want to understand the values you stand for that would reflect your character. Ultimately, they are eager to determine how you’ll contribute to their school culture. Here’s what U.S. schools look for: 

1. Passion and Involvement. Don’t just list activities. Show what you genuinely love and how long you’ve been committed to it. 
2. Leadership and Initiative. Even small acts of leadership can speak volumes about your potential. Did you lead a project, mentor other students, or organize an event? 
3. Community Impact and Service. Tell them what volunteering projects you did, the service learning projects you participated in, or a cause you passionately advocated for. 
4. Unique Singaporean Experiences. Highlight activities that may be unique to Singapore. Perhaps you joined and excelled in a national competition, joined a cultural group, or a local community program. 
5. Intellectual Curiosity Beyond Academics. These are self-driven activities outside the classroom that demonstrate your genuine interest for learning. Personal projects like coding, robotics, creative writing, or research are great examples.
6. Diverse Interests. Showing varied interests shows a well-rounded personality. Perhaps you’re great in science but also passionate about theater, music, or sports.