Preparing your Common App activities can be just as stressful as completing the personal statement and college-specific supplements. Colleges need to know that you’ve pursued activities outside of the classroom, and that you’ll be a valuable contributor to the campus community, both inside the classroom and outside. Why? The activities section is one of the most important parts of your application, particularly if you are applying to very selective colleges. To begin with, a resume helps organize the many different pieces of information you need for various parts of college apps, including the Common, Universal and stand-alone apps. Avoid believing that they will, and focus your attention on activities (and studying) that will improve your admissions chances. Your school or college may be offering some of these. When filling out the application, you should list activities in this same order of importance. Did you know summer activities can push your college application to the “yes” pile? Top Extracurriculars For College Categories (Part II) Here are a few more categories to consider. This means no fancy fonts, clip art, or complicated spreadsheets. The Activities Section of Your College Application. If your full list of accomplishments and extracurriculars doesn’t fit into your application, you can also send a resume, but keep in mind that adcoms limit the number of extracurriculars for a reason: they’re trying to keep their workload manageable while also forcing you to prioritize which activities have been most meaningful to you. Are you wondering what activities you SHOULD put on your college application? Key Concept. If you decide to join a culture club while in high school, that willingness to learn about and accept, people and ways of thinking different than your own is attractive to many schools. You’ll show that you are responsible, organized and mature. This section asks about the primary extracurricular activities that occupied your time during or right after high school. Mastering the Activities Section of the Common Application. Volunteering. Voluntary work and other community involvement look impressive on a college application. College Application Resume Examples [Resume Objectives] What’s wrong with the first of our college resume examples for high school seniors? On the extracurricular front, what you do doesn't matter nearly as much as how you do it. No! The most obvious place to include an activity such as this is the Activity Section on your college application. So, here are some choices for extracurricular activities that help students demonstrate the kinds of skills and qualities admissions officers like to see on college applications. This is especially true when your list of activities exceeds the limit set by the Common App! The number one tip in preparing your college application activity sheet.. Keep it to one page .. keep it simple .. keep it easy to read. Get answers to common questions about deadlines, essays, applications and more. College applicants are infamously known to stress about their essays. Don’t list any chores as activities on your application. They will help you mould every element of your personality and increase your knowledge too. The college application process can be intimidating and complex leaving you wondering where to start. For example, if you were captain of the football team, you would include it under football. How to Include Unconventional Extracurriculars on Your College Applications . 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. Others, such as involvement at church or summer volunteer work, can often be scheduled around work commitments. Let’s review what constitutes a strong extracurricular activity. Culture Clubs – Diversity and culture are promoted and appreciated on college campuses more than ever. In general, these five types of activities don’t help your college application much. The Common App activities list is the very best place to express your persona with some direct assertiveness. Common App Activities: How to Fit More Than 10 Extracurriculars on Your List. wrong; Very hard-working student with a passion for math and science. This first five extra curricular activities examples for students that I am listing are the topmost. Remember, colleges are looking for students who will enrich their community; it’s important to show them that you are committed to your activities and intend to continue them. For additional advice from CollegeVine’s admissions experts on how to navigate the college application process as a homeschooled student, take a look at the following articles from the CollegeVine blog . This way, you can prominently feature the activities you most care about and to which you made the greatest contributions. Focus on activities that show a depth of commitment. If you won 2nd place at state in track and field for long jump, you would list that under track & field. For some students, the 10 spaces for Common App activities are just not enough. Instead of: I raised money to donate to a school in Ghana in Africa by selling t-shirts and bracelets. There are, of course, more than a few different types of extracurricular activities that appeal to colleges. Remember that you’ll have another opportunity to expand on your extracurricular activities when you get to the college-specific applications and essays. Avoid a laundry list of one time events. Volunteer Work. An air of excitement should flow into classrooms so as to make the learning for college students engaging. Many activities — band, student government, National Honor Society — take place largely during the school day. If you're unsure about how to strategize a list of activities that will make an impact on your application, read on to see the three best extracurricular activities that will really get you noticed. The activities that go at the top of the list are likely related closest to what makes you tick. The college application process can seem daunting, but high school students can prepare themselves in a fun way--by including the fun student activities you were involved in during high school. 12 Interactive Classroom Activities for College Students Monday May 21, 2018. College Counseling & Essays 9th - … Remember: quality over quantity. My College Application, at a High Level. I was captain of my high school swim team. Create your activity list. You may enter up to eight extracurricular activities. What Are Colleges Looking For? I only have a 3.2 GPA and 1350 SAT scores, but I’m committed to working very, very hard in college. About One-on-One. 1. A Final Word About Work and College Applications . However, if you spend a substantial amount of time caring for an older relative or helping your family out in a significant way, then definitely put it in your application. Personal interests away from school, such as belonging to a band, also look good on a college application. You do this through the drop down list of 30 classifications for your activities. A weak academic record will almost certainly land your application in the rejection pile at highly selective colleges and universities. Drilling down into more details, here's an overview of my application. By presenting a robust, diverse extracurricular profile, you show admissions officers that you’re a passionate, dedicated person who will prove a valuable addition to the college … Hopefully, you will find an activity you can consider adding to your application. 98% of the volunteer work that my students do helps their college applications very little. Holding a job doesn't have to weaken your college application. Study these extracurricular activities examples and samples that you can learn from when writing your activities list for the common application. Do colleges prefer students with traditional activities like sports and student council, or are you better off if you have something unconventional on your activity list? Students should spend time filling out this important part of the application. Like this: 1. When admissions readers encounter a student with a common list of “well-rounded” extracurricular activities, it’s difficult to pinpoint what makes them different from their peers. 1. You may also choose to write an activities résumé so that you may expand on your experiences outside of the classroom. The Common Application, as well as many individual college applications, provides room for students to list out extracurricular activities. On the Common Application, you are allowed to list up to ten activities. The non-academic awards and honors from athletic events, extracurricular activities, volunteering or from the community should be listed in the Activities section, not awards and honors. Because of this, seeing “skateboarding” as an activity would be less compelling to an admissions officer than “president of skateboarding club. Compile a list of all your extracurricular activities and take note of how you have served as a leader or a dedicated member. Here are a few tips for making a good impression in the activities section. Activities are so important they are one of the seven sections included on the Common App. Extracurricular activities related to the college major declared on a college application are beneficial, experts suggest. Everybody does it. Here are your choices: Academic; Art I got perfect SAT and ACT scores (1600 and 36) and seven 5's on AP courses by the time I applied. Is education so mundane that you are always sitting amidst the four walls of a classroom and lending an ear to what all the instructor is talking? Below is a list of extracurricular activities that includes a little something for everyone. You only get 150 characters to list an activity on your college app: how do you make the most of them? The UC Activities List is the dedicated space on the UC application where you list and briefly describe how you’ve spent all of your time outside of class. Colleges don’t care if you wash the dishes every night. 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. In addition to your grades, your test scores, and your responses to the UC Personal Insight Questions, this is your chance to stand out and show how you’ll likely contribute once you’re on the UC campus of your choice. SAT and ACT scores matter at most colleges, so it's worth putting in some effort with a review book to prepare for exams. Topmost Extra curricular Activities . Colleges want to see that you are committed to extracurriculars throughout the school year, but they also love it when you are making the effort to expand and stretch yourself over summer vacation. Choose a few activities freshman year and highlight a job junior year to let extracurriculars tell your story for college admissions. I had a 4.0 GPA, unweighted, with 12 AP courses (5 in senior year). Extracurricular activities help colleges gain a deeper understanding of an applicant than can be gleaned from their coursework and test scores. Extracurricular Involvement – Colleges like to see that applicants have made valuable use of their free time throughout high school. Debate High school debating teams are challenged to stay up-to-date with current news stories, government policies, and social issues, so students with debate experience often look attractive on college applications. Not at all! Having a well-thought out activities resume will make completing college applications ever so much easier. Take advantage of this component by highlighting the best of your extracurricular activities for college applications. What you do with your time can help you stand out from other applicants who have similar test scores and GPAs. Sports activities usually demonstrate teamwork and commitment, both useful skills for college life. 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