Classes vs. Extracurriculars at Harvard College
When Harvard’s undergraduates asked for additional funding for Harvard’s student groups, it set off a debate about class and extracurriculars throughout the campus.
At Harvard, besides 399 student groups, other extracurricular options include 65 club sports teams and 86 student-directed service programs. For first-year students at Harvard, it is not unusual to join 4 or 5 clubs at a time.
Students state that the extracurriculars on campus provide opportunities for a social life and real-world skills like leadership. Professors and administrators, on the other hand, hold concerns about student stress and worry that students may push aside their studies in favor of their activities.
Some teachers and students have brought up that students may be favoring extracurriculars over classes because they do not find their classes challenging enough.
How can students find a balance between classes and extracurriculars? How do extracurriculars fit in with their other priorities? This is not just a concern limited to Harvard College students. High schools like Mission San Jose and Irvington may offer over 50 clubs to students in areas like service learning, culture, music, and sports, which requires students to make tough decisions about their academics and their activities.
