How many extracurriculars should I do for college?

Hi everyone! I'm a little bit stressed about my college applications and which extracurricular activities to do. How many extracurriculars should I be doing to be competitive for college admissions? Any advice is appreciated!

Hey there! It's completely natural to be concerned about your extracurricular involvement, and striking the right balance is important. While there isn't a magic number of extracurriculars that guarantees success in college admissions, most successful applicants to top colleges are involved in about 8-10 activities. Keep in mind, though, that many of these activities can be seasonal, like sports or clubs that meet only during certain times of the year.

What's more important than the number of activities is the quality and depth of your involvement. Colleges prefer to see clear focus, dedication, and growth in areas you're passionate about rather than just having a long list of unrelated activities. This is sometimes referred to as having a "spike" – excelling and showing achievements in a specific area or field.

To strengthen your application, aim to participate in a mix of extracurriculars across different tiers:

- Tier 1: Rare achievements or leadership roles at the national or international level

- Tier 2: High levels of achievement or leadership in more common activities, such as being a club president or top regional athlete

- Tier 3: Common activities and interests with some level of distinction, like club leadership or sports captain

- Tier 4: General participation in clubs, sports, or community service

It's beneficial to have a few Tier 1 or Tier 2 activities as those demonstrate significant accomplishments and make your application stand out. However, it's perfectly fine to participate in Tier 3 and Tier 4 activities according to your interests and availability.

Ultimately, choose extracurriculars that genuinely interest you and allow you to demonstrate your passion, commitment, leadership, and personal growth. Good luck!