Extracurricular Tier Calculator
Do you have a "Spike"? Add your activities to see if your extracurricular profile is strong enough for Top 20 college admissions.
Add Your Activities (Max 10)
No activities added yet.
0/10 Common App Slots Filled
Your Profile Rating
Add activities to see your rating.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Tier 1 Extracurricular?
A Tier 1 extracurricular represents exceptional, rare achievement on a national or global scale. This includes winning the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), being published as a first author in a major peer-reviewed journal, or attending highly selective summer programs like RSI or TASP. These activities act as an 'admissions hook'.
Are Tier 3 activities bad?
No! Tier 3 activities (like being a Varsity athlete or having a part-time job) are great for your personal development and will easily get you into most state universities. However, they are simply too common to 'stand out' at Top 20 universities where acceptance rates are in the single digits.
What is an admissions 'Spike'?
A 'Spike' is an admissions strategy where a student focuses intensely on one or two specific passions and achieves Tier 1 or Tier 2 success in them, rather than being 'well-rounded' with a bunch of Tier 3/4 activities. Top colleges want a 'well-rounded class' made up of 'spiky' individuals.
How many extracurriculars can I put on the Common App?
The Common Application allows you to list up to 10 extracurricular activities. It's better to have 3-5 highly impactful activities (Tier 1/2) than 10 superficial club memberships (Tier 4).