The Activities section of the Common App carries a lot of weight in your college application. This is your opportunity to tell colleges what you have done outside of the classroom. Since this section is meant to be short, you will need to be mindful about which activities you include, and how you describe your responsibilities. This guide will explain every aspect of the Activities section and give you some tips to make the most of this important section of your application.
1. What Is the Common App Activities Section?
The Activities section is where you can detail as many as 10 extracurricular activities, jobs, or other commitments you participated in, during high school. This shows colleges what you engaged in during high school, it also shows your interests, your leadership, and other forms of non-academic engagement. You can include activities such as clubs, athletics, volunteerism, jobs, internships over the summer, responsibilities at home, or personal projects. The aim is to show who you are, what you care about, and to help an admissions officer envision the totality of your experience in high school!
2. What Counts as an Activity?
Role can be interpreted broadly in relation to activity. Most commitments beyond the classroom would be "activities" - school clubs, sports teams, arts and music, part-time jobs and internships, volunteer jobs, family responsibilities, hobbies, independent research or competitions. This could be formal or informal activities. What's important is to focus on activities that have been meaningful to you and where you have made a contribution or developed important skills.
3. How Many Activities Should You List?
You can input up to ten activities but don't need to fill every blank because depth is better than breadth. Focus on activities that have meant the most to you when discussing where you demonstrated leadership, commitment or would say you were the most engaged or grown the most. If you have less than ten strong activities that build your skills or experience that's fine, particularly if they are well articulated entries. It is better to have a few of these entries prepared than those that pad your list.
4. How to Fill Out the Activities Section
Every activity entry has various prompts. You select the activity type from a drop-down menu; briefly explain your position or leadership role; the name of the organization; and document a brief description of your responsibilities and accomplishments. You also will report when you participated in it and how often, estimate the hours you spent on it per week, and confirm if you intend to continue it in college. The description field has a limit of 150 characters, so be precise and highlight your most relevant contributions.
5. Tips for Writing Strong Activity Descriptions
Be specific in terms of your role and responsibilities. Use action verbs to write about what you did and quantify your contributions when possible. Make sure to highlight leadership roles, position of significance, and avoid repeating exact information in all fields. When succinctly documenting your activities, make sure the descriptions communicate important information clearly. This will ensure that your activities describe you distinctly and help show the admissions office what can distinguish you from other applicants.
6. Example Activity Entry
Here’s an example of a well-written activity entry:
Activity Type: Clubs
Position/Leadership Description: President (11th, 12th)
Organization Name: Science Club, Maplewood High School
Activity Description: Organized weekly meetings, led teams to regional science fair finals, increased membership by 30%.
Participation Grade Levels: 9, 10, 11, 12
Timing of Participation: School year
Hours Spent Per Week: 3
Weeks Spent Per Year: 36
Intend to Participate in College: Yes
7. What If You Need More Space?
If you have an activity or experience you would like to discuss in greater detail, you can do this in the Additional Information section Common App. The Additional Information section will allow you the space to provide additional context or provide the significance of an activity that was unable to be fully documented within the original intended fields.
8. What Should You Prioritize?
When you are thinking about experiences, remember to think about those experiences that best reflect your leadership, initiative, ongoing commitment, or talents and passions that distinguish you. Think about the experiences that have impacted you and your community the most. Consider what makes you unique and what you would contribute to a campus community or experience.
9. Final Thoughts
The Activities section is much more than a list; it is representative of your values, interests, and growth as a human being. Spend time being deliberate and reflecting on the things that mattered the most to you during these four years in high school, and use this section to tell your story. By contacting which activities to include, and being brief yet thoughtful with your descriptions, you can present an application that truly distinguishes you. The activity section of your application provides insight into you, as a person, away from your grades and standardized test scores. You will also be able to organize this way, maintain organized and the same format of your previous blogs, in a clear and understandable manner.
If you are a high school student pushing yourself to stand out in college applications, RISE Research offers a unique opportunity to work one-on-one with mentors from top universities around the world.
Through personalized guidance and independent research projects that can lead to prestigious publications, RISE Research helps you build a standout academic profile and develop skills that set you apart. With flexible program dates and global accessibility, ambitious students can apply year-round. To learn more about eligibility, costs, and how to get started, visit RISE Research’s official website and take your college preparation to the next level!
Read More
