Best Extracurriculars for Future Psychology Majors

Author: Extracurricular Hub

Article Summary

Find the best extracurriculars for future psychology majors including research opportunities, peer counseling, mental health advocacy, and behavioral science projects.

Full Article

Psychology is one of the most popular college majors, and it intersects with nearly every field from neuroscience to business to social justice. If you're planning to study psychology, your extracurricular profile should demonstrate curiosity about human behavior, empathy, scientific thinking, and a commitment to helping others. This guide covers the best extracurriculars for aspiring psychology majors, from research programs to peer counseling and community impact projects. What Psychology Admissions Look For Psychology programs value students who show: Scientific curiosity - Psychology is a science; show you can design studies, analyze data, and think critically Empathy and interpersonal skills - Volunteer work, counseling, and mentoring demonstrate emotional intelligence Research aptitude - Experience with research methodology, even at a basic level, is highly valued Community engagement - Working with diverse populations shows real-world application of psychological principles Writing ability - Psychology requires extensive writing; demonstrate this through publications or projects Research Opportunities in Psychology University Lab Research Assistantships Many university psychology departments accept motivated high school students as research assistants during the summer. You might help code behavioral data, recruit participants, review literature, or assist with experiments in areas like cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, or social psychology. How to find these opportunities: Email professors whose research interests align with yours (include a specific mention of their recent papers) Check university summer research programs that include psychology tracks Ask your school counselor about local university partnerships Science Research Competition Projects Design and conduct your own psychology research project for competitions like: Regeneron Science Talent Search - Submit original behavioral science or neuroscience research ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair) - Behavioral and Social Sciences category Junior Science and Humanities Symposium - Present psychology-related research Browse our Research Programs Hub for more options. Peer Counseling and Mental Health Advocacy Peer Counseling Programs Many schools have peer counseling or peer mediation programs where trained student volunteers support their classmates. If your school doesn't have one, consider starting it with guidance from a school counselor or psychologist. Crisis Text Line Volunteer Students 18 and older can volunteer as Crisis Text Line counselors, providing text-based support to people in crisis. Younger students can organize fundraising campaigns and awareness events. Mental Health Awareness Clubs Start or lead a mental health awareness club at your school. Activities might include organizing Mental Health Awareness Month events, inviting guest speakers, creating wellness resources, or partnering with local mental health organizations. Community Service with Psychological Impact Tutoring younger students - Apply developmental psychology principles while helping children learn Senior center volunteering - Work with elderly populations, gaining exposure to aging and cognitive health Special needs mentoring - Volunteer with organizations like Special Olympics or Best Buddies Homeless shelter volunteering - Gain understanding of social determinants of mental health Hospital volunteering - Observe the intersection of physical and mental health in clinical settings Explore volunteering options at our Community Service Hub. Behavioral Science Projects Self-directed projects that demonstrate psychological thinking: Design a survey study - Investigate a psychological question relevant to your school or community (e.g., screen time and sleep quality, social media and self-esteem) Start a psychology blog or podcast - Review research papers, discuss psychological phenomena, or interview professionals Create a wellness app or resource - Build a mindfulness tool, mood tracker, or stress management guide Analyze data publicly - Use publicly available datasets to explore behavioral trends and share findings Summer Programs for Aspiring Psychology Majors Several summer programs offer intensive experiences in psychology and related fields: Clark University LEEP Summer Program - Research-focused program in psychology and liberal arts at one of the birthplaces of American psychology Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies: Psychology - Take college-level psychology courses taught by Stanford faculty University of Michigan Summer Scholars - Research opportunities in social psychology, developmental psychology, and cognitive science NIH Summer Internship Program - Research positions in neuroscience and behavioral health at the National Institutes of Health Governor's School for the Sciences - Many states offer Governor's School programs with psychology and neuroscience tracks Browse our Summer Programs Hub for more options. Connecting Psychology to Other Disciplines Psychology intersects with nearly every other field, and demonstrating these connections strengthens your application profile: Psychology and Neuroscience - If you are interested in the biological basis of behavior, seek out neuroscience research opportunities, take AP Biology, and explore brain imaging or electrophysiology through university programs. This combination is especially strong for students also considering pre-med tracks Psychology and Technology - UX research, human-computer interaction, and AI ethics all draw heavily on psychology. Building apps or conducting user research demonstrates applied psychological thinking. Students interested in computer science will find this intersection particularly compelling Psychology and Public Policy - Behavioral economics, public health campaigns, and criminal justice reform all rely on psychological research. Students interested in political science can explore how psychology informs policy decisions Psychology and Education - Tutoring, mentoring, and educational program design all apply developmental and educational psychology principles. Teaching is one of the best ways to demonstrate understanding of how people learn Books and Resources for Aspiring Psychology Majors Demonstrating genuine intellectual curiosity means engaging with psychology beyond the classroom. These resources can deepen your knowledge and provide material for essays and interviews: Essential readings: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks, Influence by Robert Cialdini Academic journals: Psychological Science, American Psychologist, and Current Directions in Psychological Science publish accessible research summaries Podcasts: Hidden Brain (NPR), The Psychology Podcast, and Invisibilia explore psychological concepts through storytelling Online courses: Yale's "The Science of Well-Being" on Coursera and MIT OpenCourseWare psychology courses provide college-level exposure Read our guide on building a spike to understand how to weave your psychology interests into a compelling application narrative. Whether you are a freshman just beginning to explore or a junior deepening your research, there are opportunities at every stage. Building Your Psychology Profile by Year YearFocus FreshmanTake AP Psychology if available, join peer mentoring or tutoring, start volunteering at a community organization SophomoreJoin or start a mental health club, begin exploring research topics, volunteer at a hospital or senior center JuniorApply for summer research programs, conduct independent research for science fairs, lead peer counseling SeniorPresent research at competitions, mentor younger students, complete and publish research projects Summer Programs for Aspiring Psychology Majors Several summer programs specifically cater to students interested in psychology and behavioral science: NIH High School Summer Internship Program (SIP) The National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland accepts high school students for summer research internships in their behavioral and cognitive science divisions. Interns work alongside NIH researchers on projects spanning neuroscience, developmental psychology, addiction research, and mental health. This is one of the most competitive and prestigious research experiences available to high school students. The program is free and provides a stipend. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) Stanford's SIMR program places high school students in faculty research labs for eight weeks. Several labs focus on psychology-adjacent research including neuroscience, cognitive science, and behavioral medicine. Accepted students receive mentorship from Stanford faculty and graduate students while gaining authentic research experience at one of the world's top universities. University Psychology Department Summer Programs Many universities run psychology-specific summer programs for high school students. Look for programs at schools with strong psychology departments like UCLA, University of Michigan, University of Virginia, and UNC Chapel Hill. These programs typically include lectures on research methods, lab rotations, and independent project work. Some are free for qualifying students. For a comprehensive list, visit our Summer Programs Hub and read our ultimate guide to summer programs. Neuroscience and Brain Science Activities Psychology increasingly intersects with neuroscience, and showing interest in the biological foundations of behavior strengthens your profile: Brain Bee competition - The USA Brain Bee is a neuroscience competition for high school students. Regional winners advance to the national and international Brain Bee. Preparation involves studying neuroanatomy, neural diseases, and cognitive neuroscience. EEG or brain imaging projects - Some schools and maker spaces have affordable EEG headsets (like OpenBCI or Muse) that students can use for science fair projects measuring brain activity during different tasks or emotional states. Neuroscience clubs - Start or join a neuroscience club at your school. Activities can include journal club discussions of recent papers, brain dissection labs (many biology departments have preserved specimens), and guest speakers from local universities. Coursera and edX courses - Free online courses like Yale's "Introduction to Psychology" (taught by Paul Bloom) or MIT's "Introduction to Brain and Cognitive Sciences" provide university-level exposure to the field. Reading and Intellectual Exploration Demonstrating that you read psychology literature independently signals genuine intellectual curiosity: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman - Essential reading on cognitive biases and dual-process theory The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks - Fascinating case studies in neuropsychology Influence by Robert Cialdini - Classic work on the psychology of persuasion Behave by Robert Sapolsky - Comprehensive exploration of the biology behind human behavior The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk - Groundbreaking work on trauma and its psychological effects Reference specific books and ideas in your college essays to demonstrate depth of engagement beyond the classroom. Unique Project Ideas That Stand Out Admissions officers see many peer counseling participants and AP Psychology students. These projects can differentiate your application: Design a behavioral experiment - Replicate a classic psychology experiment (with ethical approval from your school) and present findings at a science fair. Studies on conformity, memory, attention, or decision-making work well for high school settings. Create a mental health resource for your community - Develop a multilingual mental health resource guide for your school or neighborhood, connecting families with therapists, support groups, and crisis services. This demonstrates both psychology knowledge and community impact. Build a mood-tracking app - Combine psychology with technology by designing an app that helps users track their emotional states and identify patterns. Even a simple prototype demonstrates applied behavioral science thinking. Conduct a documentary or interview series - Interview psychologists, counselors, and researchers about their work and career paths. Share findings through a blog, podcast, or YouTube channel to help other students interested in psychology. Write a literature review - Choose a specific topic in psychology (the impact of social media on adolescent self-esteem, the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions for anxiety, etc.) and write a formal literature review synthesizing published research. This demonstrates graduate-level research skills. Common Mistakes to Avoid Treating psychology as only a soft science - Top programs want students who understand that psychology is empirical and data-driven. Show you can handle statistics, research design, and quantitative analysis alongside your empathy and people skills. Overloading on clinical volunteering without research - Hospital volunteering and peer counseling are valuable, but balance them with research experience. The strongest applicants show both the human and scientific sides of psychology. Ignoring related fields - Psychology connects to biology (neuroscience), sociology (social psychology), philosophy (ethics, consciousness), and computer science (AI, cognitive modeling). Showing interdisciplinary curiosity strengthens your profile. Not taking math and science seriously - Psychology programs require statistics and many recommend biology, chemistry, or neuroscience coursework. Strong performance in math and science signals readiness for the quantitative aspects of the major. What Top Psychology Programs Value in Applicants Admissions committees at leading psychology programs like Stanford, Yale, University of Michigan, and UCLA look for specific qualities in applicants: Balance of empathy and rigor - The strongest applicants demonstrate both genuine compassion for people and the scientific discipline needed to study behavior systematically. Your activities should reflect both the humanistic and empirical sides of psychology. Curiosity about "why" - Beyond simply helping people, show that you are driven to understand the underlying mechanisms of human thought, emotion, and behavior. Reference specific psychological theories or research findings that fascinate you in your essays and interviews. Ethical awareness - Psychology involves studying human subjects, which raises ethical questions about consent, privacy, and potential harm. Demonstrating awareness of research ethics through your projects and volunteering signals maturity and readiness for university-level work in the field. Visit our Psychology Majors resource page for a complete list of opportunities, explore our Freshman Planning Guide if you are just getting started, and take our Find My Fit quiz for personalized recommendations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What extracurriculars are best for psychology majors?

The strongest extracurriculars for aspiring psychology majors include research assistantships in university psychology labs, peer counseling programs, mental health advocacy clubs, science fair projects in behavioral science, volunteering with special needs or elderly populations, and community service work.

Can I do psychology research as a high school student?

Yes. You can assist in university psychology labs as a summer research assistant, design your own survey studies for science fairs (ISEF has a Behavioral Sciences category), or work with a mentor on projects. Many universities accept motivated high schoolers in their labs.

How do I start a mental health club at my school?

Find a faculty advisor (school counselor, psychology teacher), recruit interested students, register with your school's activities office, and plan events like Mental Health Awareness Month activities, guest speaker panels, wellness workshops, and peer support training sessions.

Do I need AP Psychology to major in psychology?

AP Psychology isn't required, but it provides a valuable foundation and shows genuine interest. If it's not available at your school, consider online psychology courses through platforms like Coursera or edX, or community college dual enrollment courses.