Student success is often used as a two-word summary of the student experience, from engagement to retention, persistence to career readiness.

Student success includes many parts of a student’s development, such as:

• Academics
• Student satisfaction
• Hard and soft skills
• Core competencies
• Persistence
• Achieving goals
• Readiness for life after graduation.

Yet, student involvement outside school is a key factor often ignored or missed when discussing student success. When it comes to growth, persistence, and being ready for a career, a student’s non-academic transcript can be just as important as their academic transcript.

Career Readiness and The Ability to Get Hired Are Directly Affected by Extracurricular Activities.

Research at The Ohio State University’s Center for the Study of Student Life found that employers were much more likely to hire students who were at least a little involved than those who weren’t involved. Employers also said that highly involved students were much more ready for a career than those who didn’t do much or weren’t interested.

Based on the results of this study and similar ones, it seems that any extracurricular activity in college is good for a student’s career goals, and employers take notice of the more activities a student does.

The research goes on to show that students who took part in at least one extracurricular activity were;

• 2.1 times more likely to be happy with their overall experience.
• 1.8 times more likely to already have a job offer when they graduate.
• 1.7 times as likely to say they want to go to graduate or professional school

Employers want ambitious people with a wide range of skills who are well-rounded. A student’s academic transcript only shows how well they did in class. On the other hand, a student’s extracurricular transcript shows who they are, what they care about, and what skills they bring to the table. Employers value co-curricular activities more than any other activity outside of school because they help students develop the best skills for the workplace.

Statistics Show That Student Participation Makes a Big Difference in a Student’s Path.

Students participating in extracurricular activities are more likely to gain confidence, solve problems, socialize, make friends, and work together. They also become more resilient, care for their own well-being, and learn important skills for life after college. Students engaged in activities outside the classroom learn different skills than those who only are involved in the classroom. This gives students a balanced experience and helps them nurture holistically. Students with low involvement in activities are less happy with some parts of college life than those who participate in more activities.

The bottom line is: The more involved a student is, the more they will be satisfied with their college experience.

Co-Curricular Engagement Is Directly Correlated to Student Persistence

The National Survey of Student Engagement shows that how involved students are has a direct effect on how well they do in school. The survey results show that the more engaged students are, the better their grades and the more likely they will come back the next semester. This is a direct link between satisfaction and persistence.

Higher levels of social engagement have a proven positive correlation with persisting in college, while higher levels of academic engagement can even be detrimental to persistence. Balance is the key.

Higher levels of participation in a wide range of extracurricular activities (requirements for eligibility) and student perception of the overall academic experience (memories and experiences outside the classroom) contribute significantly to a higher cumulative GPA.

A Chance to Make Your Golden College Days More Interesting: Get Insights From “AnExtraordinary Ordinary Life: The Rock & Roll College Years”

“An Extraordinary Ordinary Life: The Rock & Roll College Years” is a great book for anyone looking for an interesting read about college life. The author, Jack Samuels, does a great job of recounting his own college experiences in a way that is both entertaining and relatable. Many readers will find themselves nodding in agreement as they read about Jack’s predicaments and mishaps.

The book is also full of helpful advice for prospective students and adults who are considering going back to school. Overall, “An Extraordinary Ordinary Life: The Rock & Roll College Years” is a great read for anyone who wants to gain insights into college life.