Guidelines for Common App Activities List

Oct 8, 2024

Tips for Filling Out the Common App Activities List

Introduction

  • Presenter: Kevin Zen, Yale grad & co-founder of The Elevated School.
  • Focus: Critical thinking, storytelling, college essays, and more.
  • Contact: Visit website for assistance on various educational applications.

Common App Activities Section Overview

  • Activity Type
  • Position/Leadership Description: Max 50 characters
  • Organization Name: Max 100 characters
  • Accomplishments, Recognition, Description: 150 characters
  • Participation Details: Grade levels, timing, hours/week, weeks/year
  • Intention to Participate in College: Yes/No checkbox

Tips for Completing the Activities Section

Tip 1: Be Consistent

  • Match your activity intentions with your essay themes.
  • Check 'Yes' for related activities if stating a relevant future career path.

Tip 2: Maximize Character Usage

  • Use all available characters for descriptions.
  • Detail all leadership roles, both formal and informal.
  • Be specific about contributions, e.g., "Social Media Marketing Intern, SEO Optimization."

Tip 3: Elaborate on Organization Names

  • Include brief descriptions of organizations.
  • Example: "Student council, largest school organization with 300+ members."

Tip 4: Spell Out Acronyms

  • Especially important for international applicants to clarify lesser-known awards/honors.

Tip 5: Prioritize Activities

  • Consider hours spent, impact, and intention to continue in college.
  • Use raw hour count to help rank activities.

Tip 6: Use Strong Verbs and Numbers

  • Example: "Led 5am practices, organized 12 fundraisers, recruited 18 new swimmers."
  • Numbers convey impact efficiently.

Tip 7: Add Personality to Descriptions

  • Use humor and personal touch in lower-ranked activities.
  • Example: "Taught 4th graders math, learned Roblox on iPad."

Tip 8: Utilize Additional Information Section

  • Store extra honors/awards here instead of cluttering activity descriptions.

Tip 9: Maintain Authenticity

  • Do not exaggerate hours or responsibilities.
  • Ensure numbers are realistic to avoid admission issues.

Conclusion

  • Importance of authenticity and careful presentation.
  • Encouragement to reach out for further help and subscribe for more content.

Note: The key is honesty and clarity in your application to present a genuine and impactful portrayal of your experiences.