Tackling the Common App Activities List
Just as the Common App essay is a place to describe a part of yourself that isn’t reflected in the rest of the application, use the activities list to help flesh out your story. If you are a visual or performing arts major, most of your activities will probably be in the music & arts category, but this is the place in your application to highlight other interests as well. Here are some simple steps to get it done quickly and effectively.
Brainstorm a list of all your extracurricular activities organized by theme:
Music & arts
School clubs and nonacademic organizations
Academic clubs and activities
Athletics
Internships and jobs
Volunteer work
Narrow your activities down to 10 or fewer: Just because there is room for 10 does not mean you need to create 10 activities. If you have six strong activities, then leave it at that. For example, there’s a difference between, say, walking your next door neighbor’s dog a few times and identifying a need and creating a dog-walking business in your neighborhood. Ask yourself these questions:
Which activities have I been involved with regularly for an extended period of time?
Which activities help round out my personal story and give information that is not available in other parts of my application?
Which activities demonstrate my talents, leadership skills, and accomplishments? Did you, or the club as a whole, go to state or national competitions?
Consider the order of the activities: Prioritize those that show relevance to your intended major as well as your dedication, talent, accomplishments, and leadership skills. Also, consider which activities you are planning to participate in at college.
Fill out the form: Make use of the 50 characters allotted for the position/leadership section and 100 characters for the organization section. Then you have 150 characters to write the activity details, making sure to avoid any repetition. Brainstorm what you did and reflect on the significance or impact of what you did. Make every word count: Be concise, specific, and use strong verbs. Complete sentences are not necessary.
Most importantly, spend time to reflect on the content, concentrate on the writing, and don’t forget to proofread! Remember that the activities list is another way for admissions officers to learn more about you.