Accordingly, you should only list that activity if you actually participate in that specific organization. These questions can help you narrow down which activities you include since you should only be adding the ones to which you are truly dedicated. But if it is something you don’t really care about, you may want to reevaluate whether or not it is a good idea to include it in your application. If not, select “Other Club/Activity” and identify it in the “Position/Leadership” description and organization name section. Filling out the Common App is hard. Example:Founder and president, Community Service SocietyRecruited 30+ members, developed partnerships with seven organizations, and facilitated 20 projects with at least 10 participants each in one year. You can show multiple interests, but having a theme is helpful in demonstrating your true passions. That doesn’t mean you should add five new extracurriculars your senior year; admissions committees will see through that. Calculate your chances to see how strong your extracurriculars are. The Activities section isn't the only place to show your passion and where you excel! The Common Application, as well as many individual college applications, provides room for students to list out extracurricular activities. Preparing your Common App activities can be just as stressful as completing the personal statement and college-specific supplements. You are limited to 150 characters for details, accomplishments, honors won, and accomplishments within each activity, so you will need to be concise and offer only the most pertinent details. It’s also okay to have one or two that don’t completely correlate to the theme, such as Model UN, but you might connect it by describing what you learned from the experience and how it informed your writing. Here are a few tips for the activity section of the Common App. The key is as follows: If you participated in an activity over the summer between grade levels, choose the rising or later grade level (e.g., the summer between 10th and 11th grades should be listed as “11th grade”). When you click on the Activities page, you’ll see a brief description of what’s expected in this section, and you can choose whether or not you have any activities that you would like to report. Trained 7 state qualifiers; developed fundraising, recruitment campaigns to raise $1200 in 1 year, increase membership from 6 to 40 members in 2 years – Answer: Those that are relevant and add value to your application!. Instead, try to build a theme. (In the current Common Application, the Education section also includes Grades, Courses, and Honors. You don’t even need to use full sentences, but you do need to use action verbs to demonstrate what you did, not just what you were. What is Cumulative GPA? Is your profile strong enough to impress admissions officers? College applicants are infamously known to stress about their essays. by Elyse Krantz, former admissions officer at Barnard College Mastering the Activities Section of the Common Application. If it has a name, say it, and define what it is if that is unclear. Declared Time Commitment: 2 hours per week, 16 weeks per year. Your chances of acceptance are what make a school a safety, target, or reach. Students should spend time filling out this important part of the application. Abby explained, “I see far too many students lose a valuable opportunity in the activities section by not using the space to its fullest. It may be tempting to overstate your commitment, but gross exaggerations will be easy to spot. The Common App: most college’s standard application form. Now, the details: The main application consists of six main sections — Profile, Family, Education, Testing, Activities, Writing. This is a place to showcase what you’ve done outside of class. You should spend some time considering what to include in the activities section of the Common Application. Extracurricular activities can take on a special importance for homeschoolers. Up Next. The list should appear in descending order of importance. How Do You Calculate it? Admissions essays. In this case, unless the position and organization names are fairly self-explanatory or very recognizable, you will need to be a bit more specific in your description. Also, make sure you’re emphasizing your accomplishments, not just describing the activity itself. 55 Views 3 Replies 0 points Most recent by Meddy November 18 Common and Coalition Application. If you intend to continue a particular pursuit in college, it shows them that you are truly interested and dedicated to it. You can also search for schools based on preferences like location, major, cost, and more. 2. Mastering the Activities Section of the Common Application. After all, everyone’s situation is unique! Have you developed strong interests over time? Please do not copy them, as this is plagiarism. Laura Berlinsky-Schine is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, where she majored in Creative Writing and minored in History. Here are a few tips for making a good impression in the activities section. We support a centralized or "common" online application system for more than 800 colleges and universities worldwide that enables more than 1 million students - a third of whom are first generation - to apply to college. About One-on-One. Sample common application activities section >>>CLICK HERE<<< It is definitely much safer to say application my essay to a professional writer than to your friend, sample common application activities section. " Art encompasses a wide variety of options for creative students. College vs. University: What’s the Difference? Additionally, if you have participated in related activities, colleges will see the pattern of your interest and commitment. Read our guide on How to Write the Common App Essays Types of Activities and Positions Held. The Common Application, as well as many individual college applications, provides room for students to list out extracurricular activities. This tool will let you know your odds of acceptance, and give you tips on improving your profile. College application checklist. Check the common app activities section examples. Here are a few tips for making a good impression in the activities section. Students should spend time filling out this important part of the application. All Rights Reserved. For example, entity is now table and field is now column. Unlike your education and testing, you have control over what to include and how to describe your activities, so you should put some thought into it. Last revised 01/05/21. If it seems like you are choosing one category for everything, try to diversify a bit and think about how activities can be related without being exactly the same thing. Learn more; This article will be updated soon to reflect the latest terminology. Want free essay help? The Common Application used to require a short answer response of 150 words or fewer, and today many schools have retained the short answer in the supplemental essay section. College application checklist. Download PDF. Still, the difficulty of the challenge does not mean you can ignore the Common Application directions. Do you have to fill in every slot? These are examples of activities that can give you that “hook”. You will be able to report more activities this way if that is a concern for you. According to the Common Application “your activities may include arts, athletics, clubs, employment, personal commitments, and other pursuits.” While traditional extracurriculars like orchestra, debate, sports, and clubs are all appropriate to list on the Common Application, these are not the only options. Just like Like when writing a resume, you can use “incomplete sentences” in your activity list descriptions to maximize the amount of information you’re able to fit. This section is limited to 50 characters. These examples should help you write a great Common App activities list: DECA Executive Vice President. Use action words . Thanks for your time and your awesome blog." Writing it will be easier in this instance if students have come prepared for activities. How do you describe your activities in a way that stands out? The Common Application offers a drop-down menu with the following activities from which to select: Academic; Art; Athletics: Club; Athletics: JV/Varsity; Career-Oriented; Community Service (Volunteer) Computer/Technology; Cultural; Dance; Debate/Speech; Environmental Copyright © 2021 Princeton College Consulting. This goes for your entire application. Intern, Google Virtual Reality (VR) Coded VR environments for various software prototypes, some of which were featured at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show. Activity type: Community Service (Volunteer) Position/Leadership description and organization name, if applicable: Key Club: Club President; Kiwanis Coordinator (1) Details, honors won, and accomplishments: High school community service organization which I helped coordinate as Club President. The last question for each activity asks you whether or not you plan to continue a similar extracurricular activity in college. Essentially, the activities you invested in over time, put a great deal of effort into, demonstrated leadership or achievement (there are a lot of ways to do this), and/or have had an impact on you. We’ll let you know what your chances are at your dream schools — and how to improve your chances! If you need to add more activities, use the additional information section or your essay if you choose a relevant topic. Here's a sample Common App activities list. This is the currently selected item. Sample resume templates from our resume builder - create your resume here . Founder and President, Code for Community “Math Club” would go into “Science/Math as opposed to Academic”). Today we’re taking a deep dive into the four remaining sections of the Common App: the testing, activities, writing, and (relatively new) courses & grades pages. Sort by: Top Voted. Try not to be redundant, especially considering the limited space. There are certain limits, so it is essential to be selective and concise. An activity is anything you’ve spent time on outside of class. Your resume needs to be short and relevant, and so does your list of hobbies. Jul 25, 2020 • FAQ Article. Position/Leadership description and organization name, if applicable: Editor, The Daily (school newspaper). 1. Many schools allow you to submit a resume in addition to your application. Don’t worry that colleges will see the brevity of your involvement as a negative factor if this is the case; they understand that some activities simply have an imposed beginning and ending that are not within your control. You don’t need to use complete sentences. Test Information. The activities section has a limit of ten extracurricular activities. The Activities section isn't the only place to show your passion and where you excel! The Common App has greatly streamlined the application process for applicants looking to apply to multiple colleges. Ask yourself: how do these interests add value to my application? Coded vr environments for various software prototypes some of which were featured. Get started at any time. Fill out the real Common App The Common App is essentially a standard form that allows an applicant to input basic information, which will then go directly to university admissions.Some sections of the Common App are Don’t sell yourself short, either. Here are some tips when filling out the activities section on the Common App! 2 of my WHAT I PUT ON MY COMMON APP video, and I focus on the top 10 activities that Common App makes you list on your application. If you truly do spend 15 hours per week tutoring disadvantaged youth, say so. Put your name and social security number at the top of each page. Your Common App activities list is endless, but to provide you with an idea of what can be considered an “extra-curricular”, here are a few examples: Arts. Use the Position/Leadership box to list your title and the activity, rather than using up space to do so in the description box. Examples of great action verbs include:led, managed, coordinated, developed, initiated, (re)designed, achieved, analyzed, authored, trained… You ge… The question will often ask something straight-forward like this: "Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences." Here’s how to fill out the Common App Activities section for maximum impact. This is a chance to concisely and concretely set yourself apart from your … If you want to talk about the actual tutoring in more detail, discuss your approach — e.g., “Meet with students one-on-one, develop study aids, and create practice examples.”. Our chancing engine takes into consideration extracurricular activities, GPA, and more to give you an accurate idea of your admissions chances. Many students who apply to these schools have top GPAs and test scores, so extracurricular activities are one of the best ways to differentiate yourself from the rest of the applicant pool and make yourself stand out as an exceptional candidate. Some activities have a natural end and simply aren’t adaptable to a college environment, such as a club particular to your high school. For instance, if you’re a writer and intend on doing so professionally, you can still show your talent in multiple categories, including community service, career-oriented, academic, and creative activities. Are you a leader? In the Common App “Activities” section, you’re asked to “Please describe this activity, including what you accomplished and any recognition you received, etc.,” and each description is limited to 150 characters including spaces. You may not know exactly, but your rough estimation will suffice — nobody expects you to go in with a stopwatch. This is especially true when your list of activities exceeds the limit set by the Common App! Remember that almost anything that you are actively and productively involved in can be considered an extracurricular activity. Use the different features of the application to highlight what makes you unique. Common App is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to access, equity and integrity in the college admission process. Although short, this little essay can play a meaningful role in your application. After you choose the activity type, the application will ask you to describe the position you held (or hold) and the organization name. The personal statement alone can take months to write, so when it comes to the shorter sections, it’s easy to breeze over them. Common App Activity Entries: The Analysis . You will also have the chance to share any academic honors or achievements from high school. Example 1. Check out my insight! Applying to the right number of colleges. Much of the Common Application is common. We'll be covering each of those below). In short, they are very important, and it’s helpful to understand exactly how they’ll be used in the admissions process. Be as specific as you can be in the space available. 1. You will have a chance to indicate the timing of the activity — during school year, school break, or all year — and colleges will take that into consideration when evaluating the activity. The Common Application offers a drop-down menu with the following activities from which to select: For each activity you include on your application, choose the appropriate category. Sports. Read our guide on How to Write the Common App Essays. We’ll let you know what your chances are at your dream schools — and how to improve your chances! We get a fair amount of questions about the activities section of the common app. Essay Example #1 - Japanese Puzzle. You have 150 characters in the description box, so don’t waste them. List your activities in order of importance. This is a place to showcase what you’ve done outside of class. These might include interning at a local magazine, tutoring other students in reading and writing, and attending an academic summer program like CTY. Push down your personal activities to the bottom. For the Common App Activities section in particular, check for: And, as with other components of your application, try to get another set of eyes on it to check for errors, consistency, omissions, and more. Telling your story. Our chancing engine factors in extracurricular activities, demographic, and other holistic details. Click yes. Did you skip anything? For example, if you are the secretary in student government and participated in a leadership program over the summer, select “Student Government/Politics” for the secretary position, and “Career-Oriented” for the leadership program. Now, the details: The main application consists of six main sections — Profile, Family, Education, Testing, Activities, Writing. Then press “Continue.” Next, click on “Activity 1." And, as with other components of your application, try to get another set of eyes on it to check for errors, consistency, omissions, and more. The Activities section is one of the only spaces on the Common App, besides the essay, to insert your personality and flare. Family responsibilities come in many forms and can be permanent or temporary. If you have some spare time and could post an example Common App activities form with a few different activities, it would be extremely helpful to me and many other confused seniors! Please describe this activity, including what you accomplished and any recognition you received, etc. This short answer is always in addition to the Common Application's personal essay.. Back then AP scores weren't part of this section, but I'll take them from another part of my application here. Receiving an admissions decision: Admit, deny, or waitlist. Common application activities section. If you absolutely need more room to thoroughly explain truly important details about the activity, use the additional information section to expand, or describe it in more detail in your essay if it relates to the topic you choose. If you played tennis all four years of high school and became captain of your school team senior year, that is an activity to include in this section. What is the Common App Honors Section? If the activity fits into two equally specific categories, choose the more relevant one. With the inclusion of the popular "Topic of Your Choice" option, you have the opportunity to write about anything you want to share with the folks in the admissions office. What even qualifies as an activity? Common App Essay Example #1 If this sounds like you, then please share your story. Particularly with the Common App activities and honors lists, you do not want to underestimate their impact. The activities section is one of the most important parts of your application, particularly if you are applying to very selective colleges. Indeed just because the description section on the activity chapter of the common app is short does not mean that it isn t important. Unique activities that demonstrate your potential and the interesting aspects of your personality and talents will help you stand out and give you a “hook” — an edge in the admissions process. Activity type: Community Service (Volunteer) Position/Leadership description and organization name, if applicable: Key Club: Club President; Kiwanis Coordinator (1) Details, honors won, and accomplishments: High school community service organization which I helped coordinate as Club President. The “Activities” section of the Common App is one way you show colleges that you’re more than a number. Next lesson. 33 3. To delete an activity, move it to the bottom of the list and click delete icon. Keep reading to discover how to make a positive impression … Flattery like that will get you everywhere, Ana. Colleges want to know what your life is like outside of the classroom. Overview for the Common App. That little note at the end signals the activity’s richness while directing the reader to find out more in the additional information section. Having recognized this, the Common App added a … However, if there is a particular club you were involved with freshman year that you didn’t continue, it’s better to include something you began junior year and developed further. Part 4: Common App Activities Section Example. Here are examples from top high school students. Keep in mind that some schools report in-school activities such as student government, clubs, and awards on the transcripts they will send to colleges on your behalf. Activities that garnered you national awards or recognition, such as the aforementioned National Robotics Challenge, should appear first in most cases, while activities that took place in your school or community, such as president of a school club, should probably be further down, unless they led to more significant achievements. And it’s not uncommon for students to spend weeks (if not months) brainstorming their ideal essay topic and then editing it down to perfection. Bear in mind that activities you took on later in high school are more meaningful than those you participated in earlier. Get access to our expert guides and courses when you create your free CollegeVine account. This is the currently selected item. Let’s go through the Activities section of the Common App step by step. Colleges may give your name to members of a club, organization, or activity in which you participate so they can follow up with you, but you are by no means bound to joining when you begin college (unless, of course, you are accepted on an athletic or other scholarship that requires your participation in a certain activity). We'll send you information to help you throughout the college admissions process. You can also simply edit the activity to reflect a different one. Understanding the Testing Section in Common App. Our first piece of advice is to start a running log (on a google document and a saved word file) of all of your extracurricular activities starting freshman year. They are looking for students who are potential pioneers in their future fields. Both categories indicate that you are a driven leader, but they present different facets of your personality. You may want to start by watching the short tutorial video available at the top of the section to get started. What kind of hobbies should I put on my CV? Want to make sure your extracurricular profile is specialized enough? Aside from painting or sketching, you can involve yourself in photography, theater and creative writing. Help and/or communicate with others indeed just because the description section on Common! Sharing about their essays or sharing about their extracurricular interests, but having a theme is helpful in demonstrating true. Unique essay for your college application are truly interested and dedicated to it:,... So by answering “ yes ” to this question, you can show colleges how you will find... Do you describe your activities must fall within a single, rigid.... A way that stands out no need to be redundant, especially considering the limited:! Known to stress about their essays or sharing about their essays to give an. 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