How do you approach the activities section on college apps?

Hey everyone, I'm a bit unsure about how to go about the activities section on my college applications. Can anyone provide some insight on what admissions officers are looking for and how to make the most of it?

Certainly! The activities section is an important part of your college application, as it allows admissions officers to get a sense of your interests, commitments, and achievements outside of academics. Here are some tips to make the most of it:

1. List activities in order of importance: Start with the activities that are most meaningful to you or demonstrate significant leadership, achievement, or impact. Many application platforms have a limited number of slots for activities, so you want to ensure your most impressive ones are included.

2. Be specific and concise: When writing the descriptions for each activity, aim to be specific about your role and accomplishments. For example, instead of just saying "member of Science Club," you might write, "Science Club Secretary: organized after-school study sessions, managed club budget, and participated in regional competitions." Keep your descriptions brief, while still conveying the relevant information.

3. Focus on quality over quantity: Admissions officers are more interested in a few activities where you've shown significant involvement or impact than seeing a long list of extracurriculars that are shallow or superficial. It's better to have fewer meaningful and well-developed experiences, rather than trying to pad your application with less developed activities.

4. Include non-traditional activities: The activities section isn't limited to just clubs or sports. You can also include things like part-time jobs, internships, community service, research projects, or even unique hobbies. If you've had significant commitments outside of school, like caring for a family member, you can also include that as an activity to showcase your responsibilities and personal growth.

5. Show commitment: Admissions officers like to see long-term commitment in activities, so you should prioritize activities where you have shown particular growth or improvement throughout high school.

6. Don't forget about awards and achievements: Mention any major accomplishments or distinctions associated with your activities, such as being captain of a sports team, winning a debate tournament, or receiving a prestigious scholarship.

By following these tips, you can help admissions officers get a better understanding of who you are and what you would bring to their college community. And for some examples of successful activities list entries, you can check out this blog post from CollegeVine, which also contains analysis of what made them work: https://blog.collegevine.com/the-common-app-analyzed-4-successful-activity-entries-explained.

Best of luck with your college applications!