Hello peeps! I've been thinking about broadening my horizons and looking into more extra-curricular activities this year. Anyone willing to give me an insight into what extra-curricular activities they are into? How are they helping you in terms of college admissions? Appreciate the help!
Sure, happy to share some insights! There's a broad range of extracurricular activities you could consider depending on your interests. For example, if you're into sports, participating in a varsity team can be a great way to demonstrate teamwork and discipline. If you're more inclined towards the arts, joining a drama club or creating an art portfolio can highlight your creativity.
However, when it comes to college admissions, quality is often more important than quantity. Colleges value deeply-involved students who have made significant contributions to their interests. A helpful way to think about this is in terms of the 4 Tiers of Extracurriculars.
Top tier activities (Tier 1) are those that showcase national level excellence, such as winning a prestigious competition. Tier 2 suggests high levels of achievement and leadership, like being the captain of a sports team or the president of a school club. Tier 3 activities are those that still reflect your passions, like participating in a club or starting a small-scaled community service project. Lastly, Tier 4 represents general involvement, like being a member of a club or volunteering without any specific focus.
Each of these tiers has its value, but colleges tend to prefer students with a few higher-tier activities. For example, being a four-year member of your school's debate club (a Tier 4 activity) won't be as impactful as if you were a leader in the club and competed at the state or national level debates (which would put it in Tier 2 or Tier 1).
By participating in a few activities and progressing to leadership roles or achieving awards, you can demonstrate qualities like commitment, initiative, and impact that colleges appreciate.
Remember to choose activities that genuinely interest you! Not only will this make your experiences more enjoyable, but your passion will also shine through in your application. Good luck with your exploration!
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