Extracurriculars & Passion Projects

Grades matter. Essays matter. But let’s be honest: if your application isn’t interesting, you’re not getting in.

You have ten extracurriculars. One of them should be something not offered to anyone else at your school because it's of your creation. So, at Top Dog, we help students design customized passion projects and independent pursuits.

Now, these aren't performative research internships or a fake 501(c)(3). Colleges can sniff that out. So our projects don’t just look good on paper, but they are passionate meaningful endeavors. Authenticity is needed in an activity that makes an admissions officer stop skimming and start reading.

Whether you're a budding researcher, entrepreneur, artist, or someone who just knows they’re capable of more than a resume full of club memberships, we build something real with you.

November 2024

You Need An Independent Passion Project

They’re proof you’ve got the grit, the brains, and the initiative to thrive without a safety net.

What We Offer:

We work 1-on-1 to help students:

Create original research projects (even without a lab or mentor, or help you find one from scratch)
Start businesses, nonprofits, or creative brands that align with their strengths
Launch podcasts, write books, publish zines, code apps, design games, or anything else that doesn’t feel like homework
Sell original music or handmade work, turning creative hobbies into intellectual assets
Deepen existing interests into compelling, strategic pursuits that show depth (without spending 100 hours or burning out!)

What Makes This Different:

This is not a template. This is not a one-size-fits-all “passion project package.” You won’t be doing the same podcast or startup idea ten other kids are doing. At Top Dog, every project is designed from scratch, so it feels like you, because it is you. No one else will have your exact idea, your exact execution, or your exact flair. That’s the point.

This isn’t some fake "passion project" formula where you pretend to care about an issue for six months. We specialize in spotting what’s genuinely compelling about a student and building something that feels like them, not a performance. That’s why our students stand out.

The best projects aren’t always the most time-consuming ones. The key is originality, clarity of voice, and a narrative that makes admissions officers say, “Oh. This kid is different.”

Why It Works:

Colleges want builders. Creators. Self-starters. When you show that you can take initiative, think independently, and make something real, you're not just another applicant with good grades. Passion projects are a way to prove drive and talent.

Additionally, knowing how to get things done is part of what makes a student impressive. Logistics matter. If you can reach out to professionals, launch a project, coordinate with a mentor, sell a product, or publish something on your own timeline, you’re showing colleges that you’re not just creative; you’re capable. That’s the kind of potential they invest in.

What We Don’t Do:

We don’t do fake. We don’t do forced. And we definitely don’t do any of this:

❌ The “Start a Nonprofit” You Barely Run

❌ The Mental Health App That’s Just Canva Screenshots

❌ The Generic STEM Research You Didn’t Actually Understand

❌ The “Tutoring Initiative” That’s Just Helping Your Cousin with Math

❌ The Fake Internship Your Uncle Made Up

❌ The “Business” That’s Just a Sticker Shop You Quit After a Week

❌ The Club You Founded That No One Attends

❌ The Slideshow You Call a Science Fair Project

❌ The “Advocacy Organization” With No Members and No Action