Hey gang, college admission season is creeping closer and I'm questioning whether my extracurriculars are strong enough. What kind of activities do colleges value? How can I better tailor my free time to boost my application portfolio?
Colleges certainly value extracurricular activities as they demonstrate a student's interests, commitment, and leadership abilities; all qualities that can enhance the college experience and beyond. Let's get down to how extracurriculars are evaluated.
Activities are typically grouped into four "tiers" by admissions officers:
1. Tier 1: Exceptional achievement or leadership at the national or international level. This includes winning national awards, being top-ranked in specific fields, or leading an international project.
2. Tier 2: High levels of achievement and leadership, often at the state or regional level. This could entail being student body president, playing in the state orchestra, or leading a significant charity project in your city.
3. Tier 3: Activities that set you apart, but are less distinguished than Tiers 1 and 2. This can include being a club officer, an NHS member, or captain of a sports team.
4. Tier 4: Most common extracurriculars and often seen by admission committees. These include being a standard club member, playing a sport, or general volunteering.
What's important is not trying to fill up all tiers or choosing activities just because they seem prestigious. Rather, focus on a few interests that you genuinely enjoy and can commit to. Skilled execution and leadership in these endeavors (whether it's starting your own club, organizing a community event, or excelling in a sport) can make even a Tier 4 activity shine.
Remember, the emphasis is on quality, not quantity. Being deeply involved in a half dozen activities is usually more meaningful than light participation in twenty.
Often it’s students with well-developed expertise in specific areas ("spike" rather than "well-rounded" students) that stand out in admissions processes. So, if there's an area where you've demonstrated significant success and you'd like to continue that, I'd highly recommend focusing there.
Overall, your extracurriculars should reflect your personality, interests, and aspirations. Keep in mind, time spent on hobbies, summer jobs, and caretaking relatives also counts as productive use of your time. And remember, you can often find ways to engage with your interests virtually if in-person opportunities are limited.
Hope this helps clarify things a bit! Happy to dive deeper if you have more questions.
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