10,000+ Common App Activities Section Ideas to Showcase Your Awesomeness

The Common App Activities Section: Your Ticket to Success

Every year, millions of students complete the Common App, a universal college application that streamlines the process of applying to multiple schools. The Activities Section is a crucial component of the Common App, as it allows you to highlight your extracurricular activities, leadership roles, work experience, and volunteerism.

According to the Common App website, "The Activities Section is your opportunity to showcase your passions, skills, and how you spend your time outside of the classroom." By presenting a well-rounded and impressive list of activities, you can demonstrate your commitment to your community, your ability to work hard, and your eagerness to learn and grow.

Why the Activities Section Matters

Colleges use the Activities Section to assess your character, values, and potential. They want to know what you are passionate about, what motivates you, and how you contribute to your community. A strong Activities Section can set you apart from other applicants and increase your chances of admission to your dream schools.

One study by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) found that colleges consider the Activities Section to be "very important" in the admissions process. The study also found that colleges are more likely to admit students who have a variety of extracurricular activities and who have demonstrated leadership skills.

How to Create a Standout Activities Section

To create a standout Activities Section, follow these tips:

• Start early. Don't wait until the last minute to start thinking about your Activities Section. Start brainstorming ideas and gathering information now.
• Be specific. Don't just list your activities. Describe your role in each activity, quantify your accomplishments, and provide specific examples of your impact.
• Highlight your skills and values. Use the Activities Section to showcase your skills and values. For example, if you are a member of the debate team, you could highlight your critical thinking and communication skills.
• Get creative. Use the Activities Section to showcase your creativity and innovation. For example, you could create a portfolio of your artwork or write a blog about your volunteer experiences.
• Proofread carefully. Make sure your Activities Section is free of errors in grammar and spelling. Ask a teacher, counselor, or parent to review your Activities Section before you submit it.

Common App Activities Section Ideas

To help you get started, here is a list of common Activities Section ideas:

• Extracurricular activities: Sports, clubs, music, theater, debate, student government, etc.
• Leadership roles: President of a club, captain of a team, editor of a newspaper, etc.
• Work experience: Paid or unpaid, part-time or full-time
• Volunteerism: Service to your community, school, or a nonprofit organization
• Independent projects: Research projects, creative projects, entrepreneurial ventures, etc.

New Word to Generate Ideas: "Experiactivations"

To generate new ideas for your Activities Section, try using the term "experiactivations." Experiactivations are activities that are both experiential and activating. They are activities that allow you to learn and grow while also making a positive impact on your community.

Here are some examples of experiactivations:

• Hosting a fundraiser for a local charity
• Leading a community service project
• Starting a blog or podcast about a topic you are passionate about
• Tutoring or mentoring younger students
• Volunteering at a hospital or nursing home

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When completing your Activities Section, be sure to avoid these common mistakes:

• Listing too many activities. Quality over quantity. It is better to list a few activities that you are passionate about and that you have made a significant contribution to than to list a long list of activities that you have only participated in sporadically.
• Not quantifying your accomplishments. Don't just say that you were a member of a club. Quantify your accomplishments by stating how many hours you volunteered, how many people you helped, or how much money you raised.
• Not highlighting your skills and values. Use the Activities Section to showcase your skills and values. For example, if you are a member of the debate team, you could highlight your critical thinking and communication skills.
• Making grammatical or spelling errors. Proofread your Activities Section carefully before you submit it. Ask a teacher, counselor, or parent to review your Activities Section before you submit it.

Conclusion

The Common App Activities Section is your opportunity to shine. By following these tips and using your creativity, you can create a standout Activities Section that will help you get into your dream schools.

Tables

Table 1: Common App Activities Section Categories

Table 2: Quantifying Accomplishments in the Common App Activities Section

Table 3: Common Mistakes to Avoid in the Common App Activities Section

Table 4: New Word to Generate Ideas: "Experiactivations"