Hey everyone, I'm working on my Common App and I'm having trouble with the activity list section. Are there any templates or examples out there that could help me format and write it effectively? I'm having a hard time figuring out how to present my extracurriculars in the best light.
Hey there! It's essential to showcase your extracurricular activities effectively in the Common App to highlight your achievements and dedication. Here are a few tips for formatting and presenting your activities in a clear and concise manner:
1. Order of activities: List your activities in descending order of importance, starting with the ones you're most passionate about or invested in. This will ensure that the admissions officers notice your most meaningful and impressive activities first.
2. Use action verbs: Start each description with action verbs to emphasize your role and accomplishments in each activity. Some examples could be "Led," "Organized," "Founded," or "Tutored."
3. Be specific and concise: Focus on quantifiable accomplishments and only include relevant information, such as the number of hours per week and weeks per year you spent on the activity, your specific role, and any notable achievements or milestones. Avoid using unnecessary jargon or acronyms.
4. Utilize the 150-character limit: Common App allows up to 150 characters, including spaces, to describe each activity. Ensure you utilize this space efficiently to provide essential and specific information about your involvement in each extracurricular.
Here's an example, using a model UN club:
Position: "Club President & Model UN Delegate"
Description: "Led 25+ members, organized weekly meetings & conference prep, coordinated 3 fundraisers, awarded 2 Best Delegate honors."
As you can see in this example, the description is concise and to-the-point, using action verbs and quantifiable achievements to make the most of the limited character count. Keep these tips in mind and adapt them to your own extracurricular activities to create an effective and polished Common App activity list. Good luck!
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