Do hobbies count as extracurriculars?

Totally—if you’ve actually done something with them. Binge-watching true crime documentaries doesn’t count (sorry), but if your love for photography led to an exhibit, or your anime obsession inspired you to learn Japanese, that’s gold. Private schools love self-motivated students who chase curiosity and turn it into something real. Built a video game? Started a baking blog? Created a comic book series? Now you’re talking. The hobby itself doesn’t need to be traditional—what matters is that you’ve taken it seriously and made something of it. So yes, hobbies count—as long as they don’t just live in your head or your Netflix history.