Common App Activities Section Mastered

Crafting a standout college application is a marathon, not a sprint. You’ve poured your heart into your essays, aced your standardized tests (hopefully!), and now it’s time to showcase the experiences that have shaped you. This is where the activities section comes in, and mastering it can be the key to making your application truly shine.

Building a comprehensive and captivating activities section doesn’t have to be a puzzle; it can be a straightforward process of reflecting on your journey. More than 80% of college admissions officers consider extracurricular activities a significant factor in their decision-making process. So, how do you ensure your list stands out from the crowd? This article will provide a roadmap to constructing an activities section that resonates with admissions committees and highlights your unique potential.

We’ll explore time-tested strategies and proven tactics for curating an impactful activities section that reflects your passions, achievements, and personal growth. Let’s dive in and transform your application from good to unforgettable.

What is the Common App Activities Section?

The Common App activities section is a designated portion of the Common Application where you list your extracurricular involvements. It’s where you showcase how you spend your time outside of the classroom, including clubs, sports, volunteer work, jobs, hobbies, and other meaningful pursuits.

This section offers colleges insight into your passions, commitment, leadership skills, and character beyond academics. Think of it as your opportunity to tell the story of you beyond grades and test scores. You’re allotted a maximum of ten entries, so choose wisely! Each entry requires you to provide a brief description of the activity and your role, along with information about the time commitment involved.

The activities section offers a chance to demonstrate skills and character traits, providing a window into aspects of your personality that grades alone can’t convey. For example, participation in debate club may indicate public speaking prowess, while volunteer work can highlight your charitable nature.

Why is the Activities Section Important?

Think of the activities section as more than just a resume dump. This area is where you reveal your true self, highlighting the experiences that have shaped your perspectives and fueled your personal development. There’s a wealth of factors that make the activities section paramount:

Demonstrates Your Interests and Passions: Colleges are looking for well-rounded individuals with genuine interests. The activities section allows you to showcase what you’re passionate about, whether it’s coding, playing the tuba, or advocating for environmental causes.
Highlights Your Skills and Achievements: You’ve developed valuable skills through your extracurriculars, from leadership and teamwork to problem-solving and time management. Use the activities section to highlight these skills and quantify your achievements whenever possible.
Reveals Your Character and Values: Colleges want to know who you are as a person. The activities you choose to participate in reflect your values, interests, and commitment to making a difference.
Provides Context for Your Academic Record: The activities section can provide context for your academic record, demonstrating your ability to balance challenging coursework with extracurricular pursuits. It can also highlight skills and experiences that complement your academic interests.
Shows Your Commitment and Initiative: Colleges are impressed by students who demonstrate commitment to their activities over time. The activities section allows you to showcase your dedication and initiative, highlighting your ability to take on challenges and achieve goals.
Adds Depth and Dimension to Your Application: The activities section adds depth and dimension to your application, providing a more complete picture of who you are as a person. It helps colleges see you as more than just a number, highlighting your unique talents and experiences.
Differentiates You from Other Applicants: With so many qualified applicants, the activities section can be a way to stand out from the crowd. It allows you to showcase your unique experiences and accomplishments, highlighting what makes you special.

Choosing the Right Activities to List

You might feel pressured to oversell your activities section with as many entries as possible, but picking the right activities to list is a matter of quality over quantity. Select the activities that best showcase your passions, skills, and commitment.

Choosing the right activities to list requires careful consideration of your experiences and priorities. It’s not about listing every single thing you’ve ever done, but rather selecting the activities that best represent who you are and what you care about.

Here are some questions to ask yourself when deciding which activities to include:

What are you passionate about? Choose activities that genuinely excite you and align with your interests. Your passion will shine through in your descriptions.
What skills have you developed? Think about the skills you’ve gained through your activities, such as leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, communication, and creativity.
What impact have you made? Highlight activities where you’ve made a tangible difference, whether it’s through volunteer work, community service, or leadership roles.
How long have you been involved? Colleges value commitment and dedication. Prioritize activities you’ve been involved in for an extended period.
What have you learned? Reflect on the lessons you’ve learned through your activities, both about yourself and the world around you.
How does it fit with your overall narrative? Consider how each activity contributes to your overall application narrative and supports your goals.
Does this activity showcase unique skills? Activities where you can showcase unique skills or experiences are especially valuable.
Does it demonstrate leadership? Leadership experience is highly valued by colleges. If you’ve held a leadership role in an activity, be sure to highlight it.
Have you achieved recognizable results? Did you place in a competition, earn an award, or contribute to significant changes in the organization? Results will help your activities stand out.
Is it relevant to my major? If the activity is relevant to your intended major, it can show your enthusiasm and commitment to the field.

Examples of impactful activities:

Leadership roles: Captain of a sports team, president of a club, editor of a school newspaper.
Meaningful volunteer work: Tutoring underprivileged students, working at a homeless shelter, participating in environmental conservation projects.
Creative pursuits: Writing, painting, playing a musical instrument, acting in school plays.
Academic enrichment: Participating in research projects, attending summer programs, competing in academic competitions.
Work experience: Holding a part-time job, interning at a company, starting your own business.

Activities to potentially leave off the list:

One-time events: Participating in a single walkathon or attending a one-day workshop.
Passive memberships: Simply being a member of a club without actively participating.
Activities with little personal investment: Activities you only participated in because you felt obligated or pressured.
High school required activities: Some required activities are better off not being included.

Remember, the goal is to create a compelling and authentic representation of your experiences. It’s better to have a few well-chosen activities that showcase your passions and achievements than a long list of activities that lack substance.

Structuring Your Activities Section

Once you’ve chosen your activities, it’s time to structure your activities section effectively. The Common App provides specific fields for each activity, including:

Activity Type

Choose the category that best describes your activity. Common options include:

Club/Organization
Community Service
Creative Arts
Dance
Debate
Drama/Theater
Family Responsibilities
Foreign Language
Internship
Journalism
Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC)
Music: Instrumental
Music: Vocal
Religious
Research
Robotics
Science/Math
Scouting
Social Justice
Sports: Club
Sports: Intramural
Sports: Varsity
Student Government/Politics
Technology
Volunteer
Work (Paid)
Other

Position/Leadership Role & Organization Name

Be as specific as possible when describing your role. Instead of “Member,” consider “President,” “Team Captain,” or “Volunteer Coordinator.” Provide the official name of the organization or activity.

Activity Description

This is where you showcase your accomplishments, skills, and impact. You’re limited to 150 characters, so make every word count.

Action Verbs: Start with strong action verbs to describe what you did. For example, “Led,” “Organized,” “Managed,” “Developed,” “Mentored,” “Coordinated,” “Spearheaded,” “Implemented.”
Quantify Your Achievements: Use numbers to demonstrate the impact of your contributions. How many people did you reach? How much money did you raise? How many projects did you complete?
Highlight Key Skills: Identify the skills you developed through the activity and showcase them in your description.

Time Commitment

Provide an accurate estimate of the time you spent on the activity each week and the number of weeks per year. Colleges want to see that you were genuinely involved and dedicated to your activities.

Grade Levels

Indicate which grade levels you participated in the activity. This helps colleges understand your commitment over time.

Crafting Compelling Descriptions

The activity description is where you can really make your entry stand out. The character limit might seem restrictive, but with careful planning, you can convey a wealth of information. Here’s how:

Start Strong: The first few words of your description should grab the reader’s attention. Use action verbs and highlight your most significant accomplishment.
Focus on Impact: What difference did you make? How did you contribute to the organization or community?
Show, Don’t Tell: Instead of simply stating that you’re a “hard worker,” provide specific examples that demonstrate your work ethic.
Use Keywords: Incorporate keywords that are relevant to the activity and showcase your skills.
Be Concise: Eliminate unnecessary words and phrases. Use abbreviations and acronyms sparingly, but when appropriate, they can save space.
Proofread Carefully: Ensure your description is free of errors in grammar and spelling.

Examples of before-and-after activity descriptions:

Before: “Member of the debate club.”
After: “Researched, wrote, and delivered persuasive arguments as Debate Club member; reached regional finals.”
Before: “Volunteered at the local animal shelter.”
After: “Volunteered weekly at animal shelter, providing care for 20+ animals and assisting with adoptions.”
Before: “Played on the varsity basketball team.”
After: “Varsity Basketball Team Captain; led team to a 15-5 record; increased scoring average by 10 points.”

Tips for Maximizing Impact

Here are additional tips to help you maximize the impact of your activities section:

Order Strategically: Place your most impressive and impactful activities at the top of the list.
Use All 10 Slots: Even if you don’t have ten “major” activities, consider including hobbies, family responsibilities, or other meaningful pursuits.
Be Honest and Authentic: Don’t exaggerate or fabricate your accomplishments. Colleges can often detect when applicants are being disingenuous.
Seek Feedback: Ask a teacher, counselor, or mentor to review your activities section and provide feedback.
Consider Your Audience: Keep in mind the values and priorities of the colleges you’re applying to. Tailor your activities section to showcase experiences that align with their mission and culture.
Use the “Additional Information” Section: If you have additional details or context to provide about your activities, you can use the “Additional Information” section of the Common App.
Don’t Be Afraid to Include Unusual Activities: Colleges want to see what makes you unique. If you have a quirky hobby or unusual interest, don’t be afraid to include it.
Highlight Growth and Development: Focus not only on what you accomplished, but also on how you grew and developed as a person through your activities.
Showcase Your Initiative: Did you take the lead on a project, start a new club, or create a community initiative? Highlight your ability to take initiative and make things happen.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when completing your activities section:

Listing Too Many Activities: Focus on quality over quantity. It’s better to have a few well-chosen activities that showcase your passions and achievements than a long list of activities that lack substance.
Providing Vague or Generic Descriptions: Be specific and detailed in your descriptions. Avoid using generic phrases that could apply to any activity.
Exaggerating or Fabricating Information: Be honest and authentic in your activities section. Don’t exaggerate your accomplishments or create activities that didn’t exist.
Focusing Only on Accomplishments: While accomplishments are important, also focus on the skills you developed and the lessons you learned through your activities.
Neglecting to Quantify Achievements: Use numbers to demonstrate the impact of your contributions. How many people did you reach? How much money did you raise? How many projects did you complete?
Ignoring the Character Limit: Pay attention to the character limit for each description and make every word count.
Failing to Proofread: Ensure your activities section is free of errors in grammar and spelling.
Missing the Deadline: Submit your Common App before the deadline to ensure your activities section is considered.

The Last Note

Mastering the Common App activities section is a vital step in crafting a compelling college application. By carefully choosing your activities, structuring your section effectively, and crafting compelling descriptions, you can showcase your passions, achievements, and character in a way that resonates with admissions committees. Remember to be honest, authentic, and specific, and to highlight the skills you’ve developed and the impact you’ve made.

With dedication, you can create an activities section that sets you apart from other applicants and helps you achieve your college dreams. Colleges are eager to discover the unique talents and experiences you bring to their community, and the activities section provides a platform to let your personality shine through. Embrace this opportunity, and allow your extracurricular story to become a compelling chapter in your journey toward higher education.