How to Complete the Activities Section of the Common App
As a first step, draft the Activities List in a separate Word or Google Doc (instead of directly in the Common App). This will let you easily edit and change the order of the activities before you copy the final version into the Common App.
Brainstorm a List of Activities
Write down all the activities you have participated in during high school. (Colleges do not care about what you did in middle school unless it continued during high school.)
Include everything from community service to clubs and sports. Your Activities List can include things you did both inside and outside of school. It can include hobbies that you are serious about, like baking, collecting, or reading. You can also list any paying jobs. Remember to include any activity you are doing the summer before 12th grade.
The Activities List limits you to 10 activities, so once you have the complete list, you may have to edit it down to 10. It is completely fine to have less than 10. The key is to include things that are meaningful to you and your high school experience.
Be Strategic About Ordering Your Activities
Be sure to put your most significant activities at the top of the list. These typically include activities where you hold a leadership position or to which you devoted a significant amount of time. Activities that are unique should also go toward the top of the list.
Draft the Descriptions Carefully
The Common App only allows 150 characters per description which is very short. Use active verbs and details when describing the activities. The description “coordinated weekly meetings for 25 members and drafted 10 algebra lesson plans” is more compelling than “Went to club meetings and tutored students in math.” Abbreviate common words to save space.
Be Thoughtful about the Fields of Activity Type and the Number of Years and Hours
For the Activity Type Field, try to choose from the 30 different categories listed. Only use “Other” if you really can not find a category that fits your activity. College admissions officers understand that the number of hours and weeks spent on an activity is an estimate. For school activities, figure out the number of weeks that school is in session and use that as a starting point to figure out the number of weeks per year that you engaged in the activity.
Complete the Activities List Before Writing Your Personal Essay
Writing the Activities List is a great first step to completing the Common App. It will also show you what admissions officers will know about you before they read your personal essay (and college-specific supplemental essays). Strategically, the Activities List should give the reader a sense of what was important to you in high school and what you did to pursue your interests.
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