5 Common App Activities Section Blunders and How to Avoid Them

The Common App Activities Section is your chance to showcase your extracurricular activities, hobbies, and work experience to college admissions officers. It's an important part of your application, and you want to make sure you put your best foot forward.

Mistake #1: Not listing enough activities.

Admissions officers want to see that you're a well-rounded individual with a variety of interests. So, don't just list your top three or four activities. Try to list at least 10-15 activities, even if they're not all that impressive.

Mistake #2: Listing activities that aren't relevant to your application.

Your activities should be relevant to your academic goals and career aspirations. So, if you're applying to a science program, don't list your experience as a cheerleader. Instead, focus on activities that demonstrate your interest in science, such as volunteering at a science museum or participating in a science club.

Mistake #3: Not providing enough detail.

Don't just list your activities and call it a day. Admissions officers want to know what you did in each activity, how long you participated, and what you learned. So, be sure to provide specific details about your experiences.

Mistake #4: Not quantifying your accomplishments.

When describing your activities, be sure to quantify your accomplishments whenever possible. For example, don't just say that you "volunteered at a soup kitchen." Instead, say that you "volunteered at a soup kitchen for 100 hours, serving meals to over 1,000 people."

Mistake #5: Not proofreading your activities section.

Once you've finished writing your activities section, be sure to proofread it carefully for any errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation. Admissions officers will notice these errors, and they could reflect negatively on your application.

Here are some additional tips for writing a strong Activities Section:

• Start with your most impressive activities.
• Use strong action verbs.
• Be specific and detailed.
• Quantify your accomplishments whenever possible.
• Proofread your activities section carefully.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can write an Activities Section that will make a strong impression on admissions officers.

The Ultimate Guide to Activities Section

The Activities Section of the Common App is one of the most important parts of your application. It's your chance to showcase your extracurricular activities, work experience, and volunteer work to college admissions officers.

But what makes a strong Activities Section? And how can you make sure yours stands out from the crowd?

Here are a few tips:

1. Start with your most impressive activities.

The first few activities you list will be the ones that admissions officers see first. So, make sure you put your best foot forward by listing your most impressive activities first.

2. Use strong action verbs.

When describing your activities, use strong action verbs that will make your accomplishments sound more impressive. For example, instead of saying "I volunteered at a soup kitchen," say "I organized and led a team of volunteers at a soup kitchen."

3. Be specific and detailed.

Don't just list your activities and call it a day. Admissions officers want to know what you did in each activity, how long you participated, and what you learned. So, be sure to provide specific details about your experiences.

4. Quantify your accomplishments whenever possible.

When describing your activities, be sure to quantify your accomplishments whenever possible. For example, don't just say that you "volunteered at a soup kitchen." Instead, say that you "volunteered at a soup kitchen for 100 hours, serving meals to over 1,000 people."

5. Proofread your activities section carefully.

Once you've finished writing your activities section, be sure to proofread it carefully for any errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation. Admissions officers will notice these errors, and they could reflect negatively on your application.

Here's what you should avoid:

1. Don't list too many activities.

Quality is more important than quantity. So, don't try to list every single activity you've ever participated in. Instead, focus on listing your most impressive activities, and be sure to provide specific details about each one.

2. Don't list activities that aren't relevant to your application.

Admissions officers want to see that you're a well-rounded individual with a variety of interests. But they also want to see that you're serious about your academic goals. So, don't list activities that aren't relevant to your application. Instead, focus on activities that demonstrate your interest in your chosen field of study.

3. Don't be vague or general.

When describing your activities, be specific and detailed. Don't just say that you "volunteered at a soup kitchen." Instead, say that you "organized and led a team of volunteers at a soup kitchen."

4. Don't exaggerate your accomplishments.

Admissions officers can spot exaggeration a mile away. So, be honest about your accomplishments, and don't try to make them sound more impressive than they actually are.

5. Don't plagiarize.

Plagiarism is a serious offense, and it will not be tolerated by admissions officers. If you plagiarize your Activities Section, you could be denied admission to college.

Here are some creative new words to generate ideas for new applications:

• Appify - to turn (something) into an app
• Appify - to make (something) more app-like
• Appify - to add app-like features to (something)

These words can help you think of new ways to use technology to solve problems and improve your life. For example, you could appify your to-do list, your budget, or your social media feed. The possibilities are endless!

Table 1: Common App Activities Section Do's and Don'ts

Table 2: Creative New Words to Generate Ideas for New Applications

Table 3: Pain Points and Motivations of Customers

Table 4: Common Mistakes to Avoid

By following these tips, you can create an Activities Section that will make a strong impression on admissions officers and help you get into the college of your choice.