Common App Activity Section How-To 

When you fill out your activities, use:

• The space to express how you interact with that activity
• Language like you would on a resume to highlight your leadership and involvement (do not use I/we/us/you)
• Capitals for the 1st letter of each word under Position/leadership
• Put your activities in the ORDER OF IMPORTANCE TO YOU; though make sure you list current activities before things you did freshman/sophomore year

Include:

• Academic clubs/involvement, sports, club sports, volunteer work, jobs, youth groups, religious involvement, summer programs, research, and so forth…
• You may need to combine like activities if you have more than 10. And, you may need to leave off activities if you have too many.

For Character Count Reasons (150 including spaces):

• Please use commas to separate your ideas
• Do not put a period at the end
• Feel free to use ampersands (&) to maximize space

Please be honest about your times for each activity, but take into account the activity as a whole. If you drive 30-45 minutes both ways to get there, or spend 30 minutes prepping—that can count towards your time (but do not include the whole of driving time). Schools do not want to see 1-hour a week for any activities, but on the flip side, if you add up all of your hours and the times don’t leave enough room for you to go to school/sleep—it will come across as though you’ve inflated your hours/are lying.

EXAMPLES TO GET YOU STARTED

1. Model UN
   
   Position/Leadership: Model United Nations: Appointed official 2015-2017
   
   Details, honors, and accomplishments: As appointed official (i) inspire delegates to develop interest in international issues, (ii) guide them to form opinions & write resolutions

2. Varsity Hockey
   
   Position/Leadership: Defense, Varsity Captain (12)
   
   Details, honors won, and accomplishments: As senior captain: Led team to section finals & motivated younger players to work hard, lettered (10-12), varsity (10-12) 

3. Diving
   
   Position/Leadership: Varsity Diver
   
   Details, honors, and accomplishments: Combined love of acrobatics with desire to compete, varsity (9-12), lettered/all-section (9-12), enjoy working through new dives

4. Religious TA/Tutor
   
   Position/Leadership: Chosen as TA and tutor
   
   Details, honors, and accomplishments: Specialize in assisting children with special needs; teach children Hebrew and help them prepare for their Bar/Bat Mitzvot 

5. Circus
   
   Position/Leadership: Advanced Team (summer show), Student Coach
   
   Details, honors, and accomplishments: Circus Juventas (youth performing circus school): train in flying trapeze, teeterboard, acrobatics, theater; mentor & coach youth; year-round training 

6. Jazz band
   
   Position/Leadership: 1st Chair Trombone (9-12); Solos in Concerts
   
   Details, honors, and accomplishments: Jazz ensemble: Come together every week with classmates to make music, learn theory, practice improvisation & strengthen love of jazz

7. NHS
   
   Position/Leadership: Secretary of National Honor Society
   
   Details, honors, and accomplishments: Encourage members to volunteer and be active in community, commit to 50+ service hours, plan and run group events, inspire community to get involved

8. Another Example of NHS
   
   Position/Leadership: National Honor Society: Junior Representative
   
   Details, honors, and accomplishments: As junior rep: Organized school blood drive & variety show to raise money for charity, tutored 9th graders in core classes, teacher’s aide

9. Dance Summer Camp Coach
   
   Position/Leadership: Chosen to Coach Youth Summer Camps
   
   Details, honors, and accomplishments: Shared love of dance with youth by coaching, teaching, and mentoring kids aged 5-15, introduced them to new genres, choreographed 5 shows 

10. Weight Lifting
    
    Position/Leadership: Weightlifting Leader
    
    Details, honors, and accomplishments: Assisted young lifters by teaching proper form & how to maintain physicality, encouraged lifters to challenge their limits

11. USY
    
    Position/Leadership: Regional Exec VP Communications, Chapter Exec. VP
    
    Details, honors, and accomplishments: USY: Created Midwest Region's 1st smartphone app & online application for Regional Board increasing applicants from 5-48; plan/led regional conventions

12. Speech
    
    Position/Leadership: Varsity Captain (12), Competitor (9-12)
    
    Details, honors, and accomplishments: Captain: assist coaches, mentor young members & motivate team; lettered (9-12); NIETOC quarterfinalist ’16, state champion ‘16, state participant ‘15

13. Theater/Drama
    
    Position/Leadership: Actor (9-12), Head Stage Manager (11-12)
    
    Details, honors, and accomplishments: Passion for theater, experiment w/ technique, foster respectful environment, corral cast/crew, oversee rehearsals/costumes/props, take blocking notes

14. Debate
    
    Position/Leadership: Varsity Captain (12), Competitor (9-12)
    
    Details, honors, and accomplishments: Collaborate with coach, organize team evidence/cases, oversee research, attend all tournaments; lettered (9-12), varsity (11-12), novice state champion ‘16

15. ER Volunteer
    
    Position/Leadership: ER Volunteer at St. Joseph’s Hospital
    
    Details, honors, and accomplishments: Conduct hourly rounds to check on patients, stock supplies, interact with nursing staff to learn about cases/observe treatment, train new volunteers

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