How should I fill out the activity section of the Common App?

Kinda worried I might not be doing this right... how should I be filling out the activity section of the Common App? There's not a lot of space, and I have a few activities that I really want colleges to know about. Should I prioritize depth or variety? Help!

It's great to see that you're putting thought into this critical part of your application! When filling out the activity section, aim for depth over variety. That means focusing on those few activities where you've dedicated the most time and had the most impact.

Give priority to the activities where you've taken on leadership roles or have achieved notable accomplishments. It's better to have a few well-developed activities than a long list of superficial involvements. Think about activities that might be Tier 1 or Tier 2, as these are particularly impressive to admissions officers. For more on the 4 Tiers of Extracurricular Activities, check out this CollegeVine article: https://blog.collegevine.com/breaking-down-the-4-tiers-of-extracurricular-activities/

Also, remember to quantify your achievements and responsibilities wherever possible, such as how much money you raised, the number of people you supervised, or the hours you committed. This will help admissions officers grasp the extent of your involvement more accurately. Make sure each description is concise yet vivid to convey the significance of your participation and your contribution's impact on the community or organization.

Lastly, if you find it difficult to include all your important activities due to space constraints, consider mentioning additional ones in your essays where they might be relevant to the prompt or in the additional information section. Good luck with your application!