Does Being Editor-in-Chief for the Yearbook Help With College?

In a competitive college application climate, students are eager to do anything to boost their chances of admission success. Extracurricular activities, such as being yearbook editor-in-chief, can make you a more appealing candidate, particularly when you've excelled at these activities. If yearbook editing is related to your major, it can help you even more. Some schools even offer journalism scholarships to students who have worked on high school publications.

The Well-Rounded Applicant

Colleges are looking for well-rounded applicants who have excelled in a number of areas. Working as a high school yearbook editor can neatly round out your application, and the skills you'll develop -- including writing, editing, leadership, time management, yearbook layout and marketing yearbook ads -- can be appealing to college admissions boards. Particularly if you're planning to pursue a major or attend a school that has a journalism focus, your position as yearbook editor can make it clear that you have the necessary skills to excel.

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Most Important Factors

Although being a yearbook editor can make you a more appealing candidate, it's not the most important factor in your college application. According to the College Board, most schools are primarily concerned with grades -- including the rigor of your classes and your class rank -- and standardized test scores. If you have high grades and test scores, your yearbook editorship can help seal the deal, but with low grades or test scores, extracurricular activities might not be enough to get you in.

Improving College Readiness

Twenty-five percent of college applicants aren't fully prepared for college, according to standardized testing service ACT. But your work on the yearbook can improve your college readiness by boosting your writing and reading skills. Excellent reading and writing skills are essential for the rigors of college academic life, so being editor of the yearbook serves as evidence that you're prepared for college.

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Scholarships

Your position as yearbook editor can make you eligible for certain scholarships. Some schools offer journalism scholarships to incoming journalism students who have displayed excellence in high school, including as yearbook editors. Take time to apply for scholarships as you apply for colleges, and you could end up not only being accepted, but also receiving some financial aid.

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