Common App Activities Section: 100+ Activities to Showcase Your Passions

Introduction

The Common App Activities section is a key component of your college application. It's your chance to showcase your passions, talents, and accomplishments outside of the classroom. This section can help you stand out from other applicants and demonstrate the well-roundedness that colleges are looking for.

What to Include in Your Activities Section

The Activities section of the Common App is divided into three sections:

• Leadership: List any leadership positions you have held in clubs, organizations, or other groups.
• Extracurricular Activities: List any extracurricular activities you participate in, such as sports, music, art, or drama.
• Work Experience: List any part-time or full-time jobs you have held.

When listing your activities, be sure to include the following information:

• Activity name: The name of the activity or organization.
• Start and end dates: The dates you participated in the activity.
• Number of hours per week: The average number of hours you spent engaged in the activity each week.
• Description: A brief description of your role in the activity and what you accomplished.

How to Choose Activities for Your Common App

When choosing activities to include in your Common App, it's important to focus on activities that you are passionate about and that showcase your skills and talents. Consider the following factors when selecting activities:

• Your interests: What are you passionate about? What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
• Your skills: What are you good at? What special talents or abilities do you have?
• Your goals: What do you want to achieve in college and beyond? How can your activities help you reach your goals?

It's also important to choose activities that are relevant to the colleges you are applying to. For example, if you are applying to a school with a strong engineering program, you may want to include activities that demonstrate your interest in engineering.

How to Write About Your Activities in the Common App

When writing about your activities in the Common App, be sure to:

• Be specific: Provide concrete examples of your accomplishments and the impact you made.
• Be passionate: Show that you are passionate about your activities and that you have gained valuable experiences from them.
• Be professional: Write in a clear and concise manner and avoid using slang or informal language.

Common App Activities Section Examples

Here are some examples of activities that you could include in your Common App Activities section:

Leadership

• President of the Student Government
• Captain of the varsity football team
• Editor-in-chief of the school newspaper
• Founder of a community service club

Extracurricular Activities

• Member of the school band
• Volunteer at a local hospital
• Participant in a robotics club
• President of the anime club

Work Experience

• Cashier at a grocery store
• Barista at a coffee shop
• Tutor for underprivileged students
• Intern at a local business

Tips for Writing a Strong Activities Section

Here are some tips for writing a strong Activities section:

• Start early: Give yourself plenty of time to brainstorm and write your activities section.
• Be concise: Each activity should be described in 150 words or less.
• Be specific: Provide concrete examples of your accomplishments and the impact you made.
• Be passionate: Show that you are passionate about your activities and that you have gained valuable experiences from them.
• Be professional: Write in a clear and concise manner and avoid using slang or informal language.

Additional Resources

• Common App Activities Section Guide
• 100+ Common App Activities to Showcase Your Passions
• How to Write a Strong Common App Activities Section