Extracurricular activities that college admissions look for?

Hey fam! I'm a junior in HS right now and thinking about college and all that jazz. I keep hearing about how extracurricular activities are really important but I'm stumped. What are some good ECs for a pretty average kid? What do admissions officers look for in your ECs?

In the college admissions process, extracurricular activities (ECs) play a significant role in showing another side of you beyond your academics. They can help display your passions, leadership skills, commitment, and personal development.

What colleges look for in your ECs is not necessarily the specific activity, but rather your commitment, initiative, and whether you've made an impact. They want to see deep involvement over a significant period of time, where you've demonstrated growth, leadership or achievement. The "best" activity is one where you can genuinely express your passion and show how you’ve invested time and effort to reach your goals.

Colleges typically judge extracurriculars using a system known as the 4 Tiers of Extracurriculars:

- Tier 1: Exceptional achievement or leadership at the national or international level. Winning a Congressional Art award or being the number 5 cross country runner in the country would be examples.

- Tier 2: High levels of achievement and leadership but a little more common than Tier 1. Being student body president, playing in state orchestra, being top 10 tennis player in the state belong in this tier.

- Tier 3: Interest-based activities that show commitment but don't reach the level of distinction of Tiers 1 and 2. They would include activities like being a club leader, being in NHS, or being a sports team captain.

- Tier 4: Activities that show interest but do not demonstrate much commitment or leadership. General club/sports/musical membership and general volunteering would fall under this tier.

Overall, it's not so much about the number or type of activities but the depth and dedication you show in those activities, as well as the impact you've made. So don't stress too much about fitting into a certain mold with your activities; instead, focus on pursuing what you truly enjoy and demonstrate commitment in those areas.