Catchy Common App Activity Descriptions Don't Fall Flat

The activities list is one of the most distinctive features of the application, which is why you should spend a good bit of time on it.

What should your child be doing today, then? Filling out the application, including the crucial activities list, you guessed it!

The majority of students approach the list of activities in a fairly superficial manner. They consider the simplest possible method to characterize who they are and what they do in each activity. Admissions officers read the same generic titles and activities all day long. For the position line and the description line, give them something different. It not only highlights the unique contribution you offer, but it also demonstrates to an admissions officer how you perceive the world differently.

For instance, a high school student who just began participating in a sport but never joins the varsity squad can identify as a "JV Player, Suburban High School Girls' Basketball." Although correct, it does seem a little dull.

What if the kid quickly improved and went from being a beginner to a starter on the JV team, or if their squad was objectively less competitive, allowing for more playing time? In either case, enjoy yourself. Concentrate on writing something unique in the position line, like this:

Basketball, "Beginner to Starter in a Flash, JV Basketball"

What if the student characterized this activity in ways that were more "real" as a this action in the description line?

"I never thought I would call myself an athlete, but here I am 4 years later, starting as the point guard at 5'1''! It may only be JV, but it's my team."

I encourage them to search much further than merely receiving accolades if they don't have typical accomplishments like being the team's leading scorer on the soccer field or taking first place in a writing contest. Admissions officers will agree with them if they view themselves differently and as having something special to contribute.

Here are other examples:

President, Future Farmers of America (FFA), [School Name] Chapter

Lead 250+ students and organize events that showcase the diverse opportunities in agriculture; build community partnerships and support local causes.

Personal and Academic Mentor for Young Women, Mentor Young Women in Texas and Beyond

Mentor to 15 young women and counting by supporting confidence, self-reflection, and goal-setting including in academics and mental preparation.

But keep in mind that you only have so much room. The Common Application only permits 150 characters for the description line of each activity and 50 characters for the position line.

What matters is how you use the available space, not how much room you have to define yourself. You can make yourself stick out more by keeping it clever.

In everything I do in life, from what I dress to how I write to how I present myself, I like to showcase my incredibly unique personality and approach. I've advanced this far by being distinctive. Students need to view themselves differently from others around them. You distinguish yourself in both life and the admissions process that way!