How to Write the Perfect Common App Activities Section

The common app activities section is more than just a list of your extracurriculars; it's a golden opportunity to showcase your passions, commitments, and the valuable skills you've developed outside the classroom. With only 150 characters per activity description, mastering this section can significantly boost your application.

Here's how to craft a common app activities section that truly shines:

Understanding the common app activities section

You get 10 slots for activities, so choose wisely. Don't just list everything you've ever done. Instead, focus on activities that:

• Show sustained commitment: Admissions committees want to see that you stick with things. Long-term involvement in an activity (especially over several years) is more impactful than a one-off event.

• Demonstrate growth and leadership: Did you take on more responsibility, mentor others, or initiate a new project? Highlight these advancements within your activities.

• Align with your interests and potential major: While not every activity needs to directly relate to your academic goals, those that do can strengthen your narrative.

• Showcase diverse skills: From teamwork and problem-solving to creativity and communication, think about what each activity in the section reveals about you.

Order your activities by perceived importance to you and how much impact they had. Your most significant and time-consuming commitments should generally come first.

Maximize Every Character in Your Descriptions

This is where the real magic happens for your common app activities section. With only 150 characters (including spaces), every word counts. Think of these descriptions as mini-headlines that pack a punch.

• Start with a strong action verb: Instead of "I was a member of the debate club," try "Debated weekly on current events..." or "Led team to state championship..."

• Quantify your impact: Numbers speak volumes. "Organized bake sale that raised $500 for local charity" is far more impactful than "Helped with a fundraiser."

  • Examples: "Managed team of 5 volunteers," "Tutored 10 students weekly," "Increased club membership by 20%."

• Highlight your specific responsibilities and achievements: What exactly did you do? What was the outcome? This is crucial for every entry in the section.

  • Instead of: "Played soccer."

  • Try: "Starting defender for varsity soccer; contributed to 15 shutouts over two seasons."

• Show, don't just tell: Instead of saying you're a leader, describe an instance where you demonstrated leadership.

• Use strong, concise vocabulary: Avoid jargon or overly casual language.

• Proofread meticulously: Typos in a short, high-impact section are easily spotted and can detract from your effort in the common app activities section.

Pro-Tip: Draft your descriptions in a separate document where you can freely exceed the character limit. Then, meticulously cut and condense, focusing on the most impactful words for your activities section.

Choose the Right Activity Type and Organization Name

The Common App provides a dropdown menu for "Activity Type" (e.g., Athletics, Community Service, Music, Academic, etc.). Choose the one that best fits your entry in the common app activities section.

For "Organization Name," use the formal name of the club, school, or organization. If it's a personal project, you can describe it briefly (e.g., "Independent Research Project").

Accurately Report Time Commitment

Be honest and realistic about the hours you spent. The Common App asks for details related to your activity entries:

• Participation Grade Levels: Which years did you participate?

• Timing of Participation: During school year, school break, or both?

• Hours Per Week: An average estimate.

• Weeks Per Year: An average estimate.

Colleges understand that these are estimates. The goal is to provide a clear picture of your dedication. If an activity had varying time commitments, average it out or explain it in the "Additional Information" section if necessary.

Reflect and Refine Your common app activities section

Before finalizing, step back and read your entire activities section.

• Does it tell a cohesive story? Do your activities, when viewed together, paint a picture of who you are and what you care about?

• Are there any redundancies? Can you combine or rephrase to avoid repetition?

• Is anything missing? Did you forget to include a significant achievement or responsibility?

• Does it sound like you? Maintain your authentic voice throughout your activities section.

The common app activities section is your chance to show colleges the depth and breadth of your engagement beyond grades and test scores. By being strategic, concise, and impactful, you can turn this section into a powerful asset for your application. Good luck!