The Common App activities section is an opportunity to demonstrate to the Common App colleges your talents, skills, and specific examples of extracurricular activities you’ve participated in over the last few years.
I think one of the best ways to write a great activities list is to look at some really solid Common App activities section examples (which I’ll share in this guide). In this post, you’ll also find some great tips and exercises to help you draft and then up-level a successful Common App activities section that highlights all of your awesome-ness, as well as the impact you’ve had in your activities, beyond what you’re sharing in your response to the Common App essay prompts.
You only get 150 characters on the activities list for the Common Application. How do you make the most of them? Here are some tips with accompanying college activities list examples.
Applying through the Coalition Application, ApplyTexas, UC Application, or another application system? These tips still apply.
In this guide I’ll cover:
What’s the activities list again? It’s the space on the application where you name and briefly describe your non-academic pursuits.
What’s its purpose? “Extracurricular activities can be a great opportunity to see how an applicant has self-directed their passions and interests,” says Jorge Delgado, Associate Director of International Admissions at Brandeis. “There are only so many hours in the day so seeing how a student has involved themselves outside the academic arena is a great way of understanding their potential fit for a university campus.”
Why should you spend 30 minutes up-leveling it?
Your activities list can make a big difference in your application.
Want proof? Compare these two:
Art
Created art and organized club.
Founder, Art Honors Society
Organized and ran meetings, set up field trips, brainstormed and created group art activities, wrote and sent newsletter to members.
Most students write a pretty good activities list description and then they stop there. But it doesn’t take long to up-level an activities list from pretty good to great.
Here are three tips for doing that:
Here’s how to make it happen.
…Or you can watch me break down the activities list here. 😏
You probably need stronger verbs. How do I know? I’ve seen hundreds of Activities Lists and most need stronger verbs.
Compare this typical description of debate:
Member, Debate
Debated topics, attended tournaments, researched topics.
Shall we break that down right quick?
BTW I am so much nicer and less sarcastic in real life—just employing it here to make a point.
Here’s a much clearer, more interesting, and more varied description:
I lead research and case writing, mentor younger debate students, organize mock debates, host an annual debate tournament. See Add’l Info for Awards.
FRIENDS, LOOK AT THOSE VERBS:
That’s what I’m talking about. I’m like, “Oh, now I get what debate looks like to you.” But wait, what makes a verb stronger?
A stronger verb … is more specific.
Example: “taught” is fine, but did you coach, mentor, train, or demystify?
A stronger verb … often provides more information.
Example: “organize” is fine, but did you arrange, catalog, compile, or systematize?
A stronger verb … just sounds better.
A few examples I like: mediate, publicize, administer, or plagiarize (I’m kidding about plagiarize, please don’t).
I know, some of you are probably wondering: “But Ethan, which verbs should I use?”
Heads up: Using this list for ten minutes will up-level your activities list verbs, and thereby your descriptions.
But wait. We’re not done yet. Here’s the second tool for up-leveling your activities list:
What’s the BEABIES exercise? Simply the Best Extracurricular Activity Brainstorm I’ve Ever Seen.
It’s great for developing better content for your activities list.
Instructions: Spend 5-8 minutes filling out a BEABIES chart per activity on your list to generate plenty of content for your activities list descriptions. Use the 25 questions below the chart for ideas.
| Activity: [Name it here] | ||||
| WHAT I DID | PROBLEMS I SOLVED | LESSONS LEARNED/SKILLS I GAINED | IMPACT I HAD | HOW I APPLIED WHAT I LEARNED |
| The key here is active verbs. | ||||
After a few minutes, your chart may look something like this:
| Example Activity: Chinese Dance Club | ||||
| WHAT I DID | PROBLEMS I SOLVED | LESSONS LEARNED/SKILLS I GAINED | IMPACT I HAD | HOW I APPLIED WHAT I LEARNED |
| Practiced every Sunday morning for 2.5 hours for 9 years. | ||||
Performed at Chinese New Year festivals for 9 years.
Danced in junior group for four years, senior group for five years, senior small group for three years.
Served as club treasurer, managing club-related funds and handling reimbursements.
Organized fundraiser at the Chinese Dragon Boat festival that raised over $2000 for the club.
Served as club Vice President.
Not much connection to relatives in China.
Club was struggling to maintain steady funds.
Improving technique and artistry in Chinese dancing.
Difficulty transitioning to Chinese dancing from ballet.
Difficulty articulating ideas and thoughts.
Managed and kept a record of thousands of dollars.
Learned. . to articulate and explain my thoughts to younger dancers.
. how to handle conflicting interests from group leaders and dancers’ parents.
. our surrounding community is actually open to supporting our group.
. to express my individuality in a way that I didn’t with ballet.
. every movement and pose has its own nuances.
. how to choreograph and adapt a dance based on material from past dance groups and videos.
Relatives in China watched links to my dances, allowing us to connect more on phone calls.
Developed a sense of community within the group of dancers and parents.
Lessons in leadership helped me manage board members in my club.
Continued to reach out to my community about other causes I cared deeply about, helping to fundraise for annual event.
25 Questions to Help You Brainstorm More Content for
Your Activities List
What I Did (Day-to-Day):
Problems I Solved:
Lessons I learned & Values/Skills I Developed:
Impact I Had (On Self, School, Community and/or Society)
Applications to Other Parts of School/Life:
FYI: Spend 10-15 minutes filling out a BEABIES chart using these 25 questions and (bonus) you’ll have enough content for pretty much any extracurricular activity essay, too.
Here’s the third tool for up-leveling your Activities List:
The Values Scan is a great way to make sure your core values are apparent throughout your application. If you haven’t completed the values exercise, you can do that here. It’s an awesome (and quick) way to figure out what your top 3-5 core values are.
You’re about to use it to make your activities list EXPLODE with depth and variety. How? Like this:
Pick one of the activities list descriptions you’ve written and ask of it these three questions:
Take this description as an example, written by a student who was secretary of her Red Cross Club:
Responsible for taking minutes, updating calendar and active member list, communicating with advisors, acting as a liaison to our local chapter.
Okay, now ask those three questions:
1. Which values is this description clearly revealing?
I see the author is:
Do you see others? Maybe! But this is a good start. Okay, next ask.
2. Which values could be revealed more clearly in the description?
Reading the example above, I’m curious if the author might demonstrate leadership more clearly. She hints at some responsibilities, but I wonder if she could delete “updating calendar and active member list” in favor of a detail more clearly demonstrating leadership skills.
I might ask the student if she can think of something she did that might demonstrate leadership. (If not, that’s okay! This is a process of asking questions and seeing what variety might be possible. But we’re not in the business of making stuff up—see warning note below.) I’d also wonder if the description could more clearly demonstrate the author’s commitment to health—this is the Red Cross, after all—or perhaps social change.
3. Which values are not in the description at all yet, but perhaps could be?
To determine the answer for this student, it helps to know the author. I happen to know one of this author’s core values was adaptability. So I asked her: Did working with the Red Cross help you become more adaptable? If so, how? What detail might show this?
Once you’ve written a new draft, hand your activities and awards list to a trusted editor. They should have your Values Exercise nearby for reference so they can assess how well you’re demonstrating your values. Here’s an example:
Indian Tabla
Self-taught via YouTube videos; played drums at community meetings for worker rights awareness; helped my sister become proficient.
I see these values:
See how that works?
Goal: Include 2-3 values per activity. If you can achieve this, just think: your list could demonstrate 20 or 30 values! That’s rad. But don’t drive yourself crazy with this. If your Activities List shows a nice variety of 10 or so values, that’s enough. Really.
Once you’ve got some great verbs and some great content, here are:
1. Aim for variety, making sure your verbs aren’t redundant.
Instead of: Instructed, helped, taught children tennis (how are these three different?)
Try: Instructed in proper technique, while imparting lessons in sportsmanship, health and integrity.
2. Use the present tense if it’s something you still do.
Instead of: I gave tour campus tours and provided info on school history, student activities, and boarding life.
Try: I give campus tours and provide info on school history, student activities, boarding life.
3. Trim ruthlessly.
Because the space you’re using is so limited, the words you choose are incredibly important.
Actually, let me rephrase: Because your space is limited, your word choice is important.
One more time: Limited space demands precise wording.
See what I did there? Cut my character count from 92, to 61, to 37.
4. State role, leadership description, and the organization name in the top two sections so you don’t waste characters in the 150-character description section.
Position/Leadership description: Editor
Organization Name: School newspaper
Description: I am the editor for the school newspaper
. which wastes space, try instead:
Position/Leadership Description: Editor of International Column
Organization Name: Daily Herald, Ridgewood High SchoolDescription: Responsible for brainstorming and copy-editing articles by underclassmen; managed deadlines; offered layout & design input; liaised w/faculty sponsor.”
And are you still using complete sentences? If so, stop. No need here.
So instead of: I raised money to donate to a school in India by selling t-shirts and bracelets.
You might end up with: Arranged advertising events, organized fundraisers, and presented to student body at assemblies (400+ students).
5. Emphasize tangible, measurable impact.
Notice for example the “400 students” inclusion above. This comes as a result of asking questions like “Whom did your activity help? How many people? How much money did you raise?”
Instead of: Raised money for children in Africa.
Try: Raised $3,000 to provide three uniforms and scholarships for students attending the Joseph Waweru Home School in Kenya.
6. Include any responsibilities that demonstrate leadership skills.
Instead of: I swim on the swim team.
Try: Responsible for leading swim practices, planning fundraising events, assisting in recruiting process.
7. What if there isn’t much to say or it was a one-time event?
Instead of: Tutored students.
Try: Provided support to fourth graders with particularly difficult math concepts. (This works because you’ve explained the significance of the activity: why the event mattered and to whom).
8. Describe selectivity. This is key if the reader might not understand the achievement your activity represents.
Example: 1 of 2 student leaders elected by my peers to represent our class of 450.
Another example: Received 1st place out of 300 competing teams.
9. Avoid extreme language.
Instead of: . to help all those in need (or) to end poverty in the world
Try: . to help those in need (or) . to fight against global poverty
10. If your role was simply “member” or “participant,” it’s okay to just list the activity.
In other words, instead of writing Participant, MLK Day of Service
You can just write MLK Day of Service
What happened to her? Initially, she was accepted by several highly selective schools. But when one admission officer noticed application details that didn’t line up with her counselor’s recommendation letter, they brought it to the counselor’s attention. After a little research, the counselor found the same inconsistencies and was professionally obligated to inform the highly selective schools that the student’s application contained, for lack of a better word, “alternative facts.” (She’d lied.)
When the student was confronted, she claimed she had “stretched the truth” and hadn’t technically lied. As far as the counselor and admission officer were concerned in this case, however, “stretching the truth” and “lying” were pretty much the same thing.
As a result, the student’s acceptances to those universities were rescinded. In other words: although she was initially accepted, she was ultimately rejected. Worst of all, it damaged her reputation and relationship with her counselors, her principal, and me.
Q: What if I didn’t do much for the activity and I don’t have much to say?
A: If you aren't participating in many or any extracurriculars, ask yourself: why? And I’m not assuming you should be, I’m really asking… why? Perhaps a better, less confronting way of asking this is: What values have become more important to you than extracurricular activities?
Do you have to work and provide childcare for your family, for example? Do you have and enjoy an intense academic load? Or maybe you practice gymnastics eight hours a day? If so, mention this in your Additional Info section, as that will help admission officers see your Activities List within the context of your life experiences.
Q: What if I feel like I haven’t done “enough”?
First, stop comparing! It’ll drive you crazy. Next, some questions to ask:
1. Have you remembered everything you’ve done? Try sitting down with a parent or friend who can help you remember stuff you might’ve forgotten you did.
2. How could you explore some things that are important to you, gain some experiences, or learn some new skills in the time left before your application is due? Heads-up: admission officers can usually spot it when a student is loading up activities in 12th grade just to pad their activities lists. That’s not quite what I’m talking about doing. If you have a few months before it’s time to apply, however, ask yourself, “What can I do that I’d enjoy doing?” But if you’ve remembered everything and you’re submitting your application soon.
3. Focus on what you can control. Use the resources above—the Epic Verbs List, BEABIES and questions, and Values Scan—to describe what you did in a way that’s clear and varied.
Q: Is it better to have a few really strong activities (less is more) or should I list everything I’ve done (more is more)?
A: I find counselors are divided into two camps on this: “less is more” and “more is more.” Here’s a quick comparison chart:
| POTENTIAL PROS | POTENTIAL CONS | |
|---|---|---|
| Less is more | You list only your most important endeavors, demonstrating focus and commitment. | You leave off some stuff you did, risking an incomplete portrait of yourself in your application. |
| More is more | You include everything you’ve done, demonstrating a wide range of interests and achievements. | Some of your listed activities don’t mean a whole lot to you. It may seem as if you’re trying too hard to impress. |
When I asked Brian Liechti of Warren Wilson College what he prefers, he said, “It depends! I would rather see meaningful, current activities that also show up elsewhere in an essay or a letter of recommendation. This adds weight and validation to what a student includes as an activity and I know it was a more impactful experience. But uncommon activities can add flair and character, especially if those activities are also represented on campus.”
In short, the choice is yours.
Q: What if a multi-dimensional activity is impossible to describe in 150 characters?
A: Write a short description in the Activities List, then put additional information into the. Additional Information section (that redundancy was on purpose). Here’s an example of such an activity:
Creator, AquaVR
Researched, brainstormed, created 3 prototypes for virtual reality scuba gear. Recognized statewide. Developing app with Siemens. (See add’l info.)
That little note at the end signals the activity’s richness while directing the reader to find out more in the additional information section.
Member, (9th,10th) Treasurer (11th, 12th)
National Honors Society, Ridgefield High School Chapter
We are amongst the highest academically achieving students at our school, who collectively and consistently participate in community service projects.
Student, Class TA
Robotics Fundamentals, Online Course at Carnegie Mellon University
Learned the fundamentals of computer programming, robot assembly, and worked as a team in competitions.
Intern
Center for Advanced Head & Neck Surgery, Duluth, MN
Learned how to operate various screening & diagnostic technologies under Dr. Yang; assisted in patient care & diagnosis procedures in Otolaryngology & Oncology.
Leader/Concertmaster
AMAC Youth Chamber Ensemble (AYCE)
Lead ensemble in rehearsal and performance, coordinate rehearsal times, aid younger members in learning music, present free community concerts yearly.
Volunteer (June 2012 - August 2012)
Boys & Girls Club of Santa Monica
Supervised and served as mentor for K-8 grade kids; Helped prepare lunch, entertained, and tutored students in math and science.
Number 3 Starter (August 30th, 2013 - November 11th, 2015)
Varsity Girls Tennis, Robinson Crusoe High School
Practiced and conditioned daily, led daily stretches, competed in district and regional matches against other schools.
Starter
JV/V Beverly Hills High School Tennis Team
Three-year League Champions; planned and hosted team banquet; Coach's Award Recipient. Led practices and motivated teammates to perform at high level.
Local Violin Tutor
Gupta Violin Lesson & Training
Provide aspiring middle school students a foundation on music and basics of violin, demonstrate proper technique, develop strong cognitive and musical skills.
Full-time volunteer EMT (11th - 12th)
Virginia Paramedic Association
Responded to emergency calls, performed BLS protocols, interacted with patients and families, assisted paramedics, organized ambulance rigs. 24 hr/wk for every week.
Volunteer (9th), Summer Intern (10th)
Red Cross of San Fernando Valley
Assisted supervisors, filed paperwork, made phone calls to donors, prepared facilities for training programs by helping with class planning.
If it wasn’t obvious from the title, this is the place on your application where you list awards you’ve won and honors you’ve received.
Here’s what Common App says:
Do you wish to report any honors related to your academic achievements?
So while the focus of this section will be on academic honors and awards, based on a few conversations with folks who work in admission, it’s OK to list other significant awards and honors that you’d like to highlight here.
What if I haven’t won any awards?
Don’t worry. Many schools don’t offer academic awards, many activities are not competitive, and some students don’t have the time, money, or resources to compete. Admission officers understand this based on the context of the applicant (what’s shared in your school report or what you’ve shared in the Additional Information) and won’t use it against you.
If you do have awards to list, here are.
Seven Tips for the Honors and Awards Section
1. List your awards in order of importance.
Start with those that mean the most to you. If you’re unclear on your awards’ personal meaning, start with international. Work down from there to national, state, regional, school-wide, club, then team-wide.
2. Specify what the award means.
Congrats on winning the “Beacon Award”. but I have no idea what that means. Did you win a beacon? Were you the beacon? Say so! Similarly, an “academic excellence” award could mean so many things. Define the bar of excellence in the context of the award.
3. Emphasize selectivity.
Were you the best team out of four teams, or 400? We won’t know unless you tell us.
4. Explain acronyms.
Speaking of things we won’t know unless you tell us. Some acronyms (like TEDx and AP) will be familiar to readers, while others (like Future Business Leaders of America or regional designations like California Scholarship Federation) may be less familiar. When in doubt, spell it out. (Totally didn’t mean to rhyme there.)
5. Want to pack multiple awards into one slot?
Go for it. Just make sure they’re somehow connected. Example: SkillsUSA, Best of Show (1st) Interior Design; (1st) Employment Portfolio; (2nd) Web Design Technical
6. Did your honor/award include money?
Throw it in there! Example: TEDx NYC Student Startup Competition Winner: granted $1,500 in seed funding
7. Did they fly you out?
Mention that too! Example:
Google “Young Changemaker” Winner: all-expenses-paid trip + mentoring @ Google HQ
10 Examples of Honors and Awards That Could Have
Been Improved—And Then Were!
The examples below were revised to add context and specifics.
1. “FBLA Award”
Revised version: “Won 3rd in nation, Desktop Application Programming (Future Business Leaders of America)”
2. “Congressional Award”
Revised version: “Gold Medalist, The Congressional Award, for 400+ hours public volunteer service”
3. “Student of the Month”
Revised version: Student of the Month (1 of 350 students chosen) for “positive impact on school culture.” Won twice.
4. “Journalism Award”
Revised version: “Silver Knight Award, Journalism. Given to 1 in entire county, included $2,000 prize.”
5. “Science Olympiad”
Revised version: “1st in state, Analytical Lab, PA Chemistry Olympics”
6. “Debate Awards”
Revised version: “Debate: (4) 1st place finishes, Dade County Forensic League, 19-3 career policy debate record”
7. “Boy Scouts: Various Awards”
Revised version: “Boy Scouts: 36 merit badges, Silver Buffalo Award (10th) & Distinguished Service Award (11th)”
8. “DECA Champion”
Revised version: “DECA 2x Regional & State Champion and Int’l Finalist out of over 200K members worldwide”
9. “Chess Champion”
Revised version: “1st place @ Pan American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship”
10. “Dog Breeding Award”
Revised version: “4-H Best in Show Project on Dog Breeding”
What to see more example activities list descriptions? Here’s 80+ more descriptions that might get you inspired.
Applying to the UC schools? You get a bit more space. Check out my How to Create the University of California (UC) Activities List guide here.
