Hey y'all, I'm starting to fill out my Common App and I've reached the activities section. How detailed should I be in describing my extracurriculars? Should I focus on leadership positions, the number of years I've been involved, or the impact of the activity on me or my community? Trying to figure out how to make the most of the limited space. Any advice?
Hey there! You're asking some great questions. You've got a limited amount of space in the Common App activities section—150 characters to be exact—so it's all about being succinct yet impactful. You'll want to include the leadership positions you've held, the duration of your involvement, and any significant contributions or achievements. It's necessary to strike a balance between providing enough detail to convey the significance of the activity and keeping it concise. Use strong action verbs to describe your involvement, and whenever possible, quantify your impact.
For example, instead of saying 'raised money for charity,' specify 'organized a 5K race that raised $10k for local food banks.' And remember, colleges are really impressed by depth over breadth — they love seeing you deeply involved in a few activities, demonstrating passion and commitment. Focus on the experiences that are most meaningful to you and align with your planned course of study or your 'spike' — that's what will stand out to admissions officers.
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