Writing a well-crafted Common App activities description?

Hi guys! I'm working on the activities section for my Common App, and I'm unsure how to write a description that shows what I've gained from each activity without oversharing. Any tips on good description writing for the activities section?

Hello! Writing a concise yet informative description for your activities section in the Common App can be tricky. The key is to focus on briefly outlining your role, accomplishments, and impact without adding too much unnecessary detail. Here are some tips to help you create well-crafted descriptions:

1. Use clear, specific language: Instead of using generic terms like "participated" or "helped," use action verbs that convey your role more accurately, such as "led," "coordinated," or "mentored."

2. Highlight accomplishments and impact: Briefly mention any significant achievements, recognitions, or results from your involvement in each activity. This could include awards, tangible outcomes (e.g., fundraising amounts, number of events organized), or the impact on the community or organization.

3. Emphasize your role: Quickly describe your responsibilities, leadership positions, or unique contributions, and keep your description focused on your involvement. Avoid discussing the general background of the activity or club, as admissions officers are more interested in your role and contributions.

4. Keep it concise: With a 150-character limit for each activity description, it's essential to be as succinct as possible. Try to use abbreviations (while still being easily understandable) and be straightforward in conveying the necessary information.

To demonstrate, let's consider a hypothetical activity: volunteering at a local food bank. Instead of writing "Helped distribute food to those in need and organized food drives," a more effective description might be:

"Coordinated bi-monthly food drives, raising 8K+ lbs of food; supervised and trained 20+ new volunteers."

By applying these tips, you can create a description that effectively demonstrates the significance of your involvement in each activity while staying within the character limits of the Common App. Good luck with your application!