What extracurricular activities do colleges value most?

I've been involved in a few extracurricular activities (the debate team and cross country, mainly), but I'm kind of in a dilemma. I'm wondering, are there any specific extracurriculars that colleges seem to value more, or is it more about the level of commitment and leadership demonstrated in whatever activity you choose?

While your question implies a ranking of extracurricular activities, the truth is colleges value your involvement in different activities based on a variety of factors. It's not so much about the type of extracurricular activity, but the impact, commitment, and level of achievement associated with your involvement.

The quality of your contribution to your activities matters more than the quantity of your involvement. Highly selective colleges tend to favor students who have displayed exceptional leadership, initiative, and impact in a few activities (the “spike” approach), rather than those who participate in a wide range of activities but without significant depth (the "well-rounded" approach).

Colleges evaluate extracurricular activities by considering the 4 Tiers of Extracurriculars:

1. Tier 1: Rare activities that show exceptional achievement or leadership at the national or international level. Examples could include being a national champion in a specific sport or qualifying for international academic competitions.

2. Tier 2: Still high-impact but more common than Tier 1. Examples might be serving as student body president or being a state-level player in a certain sport.

3. Tier 3: These show significant involvement and commitment but are less distinguished than Tier 1 and 2 activities. For example, being a captain of a school sports team or a leader in a school club.

4. Tier 4: These are the most common and generally include activities like general membership in clubs or volunteer activities.

Your involvement in debate and cross country can certainly be impressive - it all depends on how deeply you've participated and the impact you've made. If you've held leadership roles, initiated new projects, or achieved noteworthy rankings or awards, those experiences will carry substantial weight in your application.

So rather than focusing solely on what activity to do, it might be more beneficial to think about how you can deepen your involvement and demonstrate your passion, initiative, and leadership within your current activities.