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What Colleges Want to See in the Activities Section of The Common App
The Common App's Activities section allows applicants to highlight extracurricular pursuits. Admissions officers use three key criteria when evaluating this critical section. First, they assess demonstrated interest through relevant activities tied to academic and personal passions. Second, they look for meaningful involvement over time rather than sporadic participation. Finally, they value concrete examples of initiative through leadership, honors, and community impact. By showcasing genuine commitment, achievements, and growth, savvy applicants can make this section shine. Thoughtfully completing the Activities section provides a powerful opportunity to reveal talents beyond the classroom.
The Common App's Activities section allows applicants to highlight extracurricular pursuits that reveal their interests, involvement, initiative, and impact. How admissions officers evaluate this section is critical during application review. Here are 3 key criteria they use:
Relevance to Academic Interests: For students with a clear academic major in mind, choosing activities that connect to those subjects is key. Admissions officers look for extracurriculars that allow applicants to apply concepts from their prospective majors. A future biology major could pursue a research internship to gain relevant experience. An aspiring education major might lead tutoring programs to develop teaching skills. Activities clearly linked to academic interests strengthen applications.
Level of Involvement: Commitment and meaningful involvement in a few activities resonates more than a laundry list covering every base. Admissions officers evaluate engagement shown by long-term dedication, leadership roles, and starting initiatives. They are interested in a student who stuck with dance team all 4 years and became captain over someone who sporadically participated in various clubs. Serving on a board of a nonprofit for multiple years exhibits deeper commitment than volunteering once or twice.
Impact and Initiative: Concrete achievements, honors, and examples of community impact strengthen applications. Taking initiative to start organizations, create projects, or develop innovative solutions demonstrates drive. For instance, an applicant who founded a recycling club that reduced school waste would stand out. Winning a prestigious writing award at a regional competition exhibits exceptional impact. Officers value applicants who show initiative to generate positive impacts on their schools and communities.
Students can convey genuine interest in their activities, detail meaningful involvement over time, and provide examples of the initiatives they've taken and impacts made. The Activities section offers the perfect opportunity to showcase their unique interests, passions, and achievements beyond the classroom.
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