Part 2: Extracurriculars
This summer, we’ve been myth-busting the most common myths about post-secondary admissions in Canada. In case you missed it, you can check out Part 1 here. Today, we’re dealing with one of the biggest myths we come across:
MYTH #5
Universities expect a long list of extracurriculars and volunteer hours.
Believe it or not, the majority of Canadian post-secondary institutions will not evaluate your resume or extracurricular activities at all– they focus solely on your grade 12 courses and marks.
This often surprises families who assume a packed activity list is essential. For most Canadian university programs, what gets you in is your academic record meeting the Admission Requirements for your target program, and there is no other way to even share extracurricular information.
There are some notable exceptions to this point. UBC is the most prominent example: all applicants must complete a Personal Profile outlining up to five activities or interests, along with short written reflections. What UBC’s admissions readers are actually looking for– engagement, leadership, substance, and authentic voice– is often misunderstood. They are far more interested in what you learned and how you grew from an experience than in the achievement itself. A student who got cut from a team but stepped up as manager tells a more compelling story than a team captain who simply lists their title and winning streak.
Additionally, some leading Business and Engineering programs across Canada ask for written or video responses about character, values, and relevant experience– leadership in a business context, or evidence of engineering thinking and problem-solving. Architecture, Fine Arts, and Design programs typically require a portfolio. Your Educational Consultant will advise which programs have these additional requirements and help you make sure you are prepared for those applications.
So, how do I know how many activities I need and which ones I should do?
The best starting point is authenticity: choose activities that genuinely interest you because what you enjoy is usually where you show up most fully.
Everything counts. I’ve had students write successful applications based on everything from lifeguarding to helping a grandparent to running a niche YouTube channel. There’s no hierarchy where varsity athletics beats a part-time job, or where a formal volunteer placement beats something you built yourself. What matters is what you took from the experience and how it connects to the larger story of your interests and values.
Those experiences form your personal narratives, which are the stories that help admissions offices and scholarship committees understand who you are beyond your transcript. In my experience, every student has something genuinely interesting to share once we dig into it. One of my students spent years worrying they didn’t have enough extracurriculars. Ultimately, their strongest application essay ended up being about working weekends picking blueberries in a family business.
Developing those narratives takes reflection and practice. Whether through individual coaching or workshops, the goal is to help students communicate their experiences clearly and authentically. If you’re looking for help articulating your stories, contact us, and stay tuned for Part 3, coming later this week.
Admissions is a dynamic field and process. This post was written in June of 2026, and the information discussed was accurate at the time of writing, but that information may be different when you are reading this post. Please check each institution’s website for the most recent information.
