Mastering Your Student Activity List for College Admissions

Unlock Your Potential

Your student activity list is crucial in presenting a well-rounded view of your character beyond the classroom. Admissions officers may look here first to evaluate your

interests and assess how you may fit into their college culture.

This post will help you provide specific context about your values and ambitions.

Choosing the Right Activities to Highlight

Select activities that matter most to you and reflect your personal life views.

If you're a member of a sports team, a school club, or a community service, be sure to

cross-reference themes and allocate one theme per activity to cover more bases. For example, teamwork for sports, creativity for clubs, etc. Repetition is the enemy. Each entry is limited to approximately 40 words, so be as purposeful and concise as possible.

Demonstrate Self-Awareness

Colleges are eager to admit students who know who they are, what inspires

them, and how they will take charge of their college career. For example, if you

organized a fundraiser that garnered $1,000 for a local charity, when sharing this or a

similar experience, describe not yourself but who the funds will benefit and how.

This speaks to your altruism and humanity, demonstrating that your goals are not

focused solely on yourself. Above all, display your ability to initiate change or improve

the lives of others. You can!

Quantifying Your Achievements

Adding numbers to your descriptions strengthens your application. Use numbers to be specific, but don't overdo it, two or three times is fine. For example, instead of stating you volunteered, say you donated 50 hours to a local food bank, serving 200 families over that time. This gives a clearer picture of your commitment.

Crafting a Compelling Description

Every activity you feature should start with a powerful action verb, detail your responsibilities, and explain the outcome. For instance, “Coordinated a community garden project where I led a team of 10 volunteers, resulting in 500 pounds of fresh produce distributed to local shelters.” This method is punchy and keeps your entries engaging, succinct, and showcases how you contribute to improving your community.

EAE Helps You Get There

Tailoring Your List to Align with College Values

Research each college program you wish to submit applications to and align your activity list with their mission and values. If a school emphasizes mental wellness and promotes therapy dogs for students with ADHD, be sure to reference your contributions to the local animal shelter or the day you washed cars to help raise awareness for ADHD. Making connections to your desired college programs confirms you'll be a good fit and a welcome addition to their campus culture. To use similar writing strategies in the Common App essay, watch EAE's video tutorials for more guidance.

Proofread and Get Feedback

Attention to detail is critical. Typos and grammatical errors can detract from your impressive list of activities. Always proofread your entries and consider asking teachers or mentors for feedback. If you need more support, EAE's editorial services have you covered.

Your Key to College Success

When you carefully curate an activity list that reflects your true nature and interests, highlighting leadership roles, quantifying your contributions, and aligning your list with the campus culture of your desired colleges, you will enhance your application and set it above other applicants.

Give your best creative effort.

xx Dr. B