What qualifies as extracurricular activities?

Hey there, I'm trying to build my profile and need some clarification. What are some examples of extracurricular activities that colleges tend to value or look for? Besides school clubs and sports, what are other activities I could get involved in?

Absolutely, happy to help with your question! Extracurricular activities indeed extend beyond school clubs and sports, and they broadly include any activities you participate in outside of class time. They could be community-service based, involve part-time employment, artistic pursuits, competitive events, or even personal projects.

Here, you could consider activities like volunteer work in local charities, community centers, hospitals, or senior living homes. Development of your own personal projects, for instance, creating and managing a blog, developing an app, or writing a novel, counts, too. Participating in work experiences, internships, or shadowing professionals in your field of interest can also be valuable.

Additionally, extracurricular activities can involve creative arts such as playing an instrument, participating in a theater production, painting, sculpture, photography, or digital design. If you're involved in competitions like Math Olympiad, National Spelling Bee, FBLA, and Model UN, those would count, too.

Remember what's critical is your level of involvement, leadership, and impact within these activities. Consider the 4 Tiers of Extracurriculars when evaluating the impact of your involvement. Tier 1 and 2 activities demonstrate high levels of achievement and leadership at national or international levels or within your community or state, respectively.

However, don't feel pressured to only seek out top-tier activities. Tier 3 and 4 activities, such as being part of a regional club or general volunteering, can provide significant value as they align with your interests and consistency in involvement can certainly be rewarding.

Lastly, just as important as the activity itself is how it aligns with your academic and career interests. An extracurricular activity that matches your future goals would be seen as a strong identifier of your passion and dedication.