There's got to be some Reddit thread or an "expert" this year that every high school senior is following to guide them in filling out the activities section of Common App.
Almost every single activities list that I see has the same tell-tale signs: Generic descriptions, using semicolons to separate clauses, and no punctuation at the end of each description.
That is a sure-fire way to make an admissions officer less likely to actually read your descriptions. The approach looks resume-like, or worse yet, AI-generated. Either way, it's not an effective use of that space.
There are three open fields for each activity listing on Common App: position, organization, and description. If you do a good job listing your position in the position field and clearly state the name of the club, team, company, or group in the organization field, the description box is your chance to say something unexpected. But it can easily become valueless for a speed-reading admissions officer when you simply repeat what the position and organization fields already state.
For example, a student who describes themself as a "Volunteer" in the position box and then lists the nonprofit where they volunteer in the organization field, but then uses the description field to say they "...volunteer at [nonprofit's name]," is not utilizing that space effectively. They are just repeating information and increasing the likelihood that the admissions officer will barely read or skip over the description.
Instead, my whole approach to the activities list is to use the description as a creative way to tell a mini-story about your role, impact, or the meaning behind your involvement. You only have 150 characters in the description field. Use your characters wisely. Give those admissions officers something they don't typically see in the description field. It catches their attention and keeps them reading your descriptions!
RELATED READING: How To Order Your Activities on Common App for the Biggest Impact
Admissions officers know what a volunteer does. They know what a captain of a sports team does. They know what a member of the marching band does. Don't give them generic clauses, separated by semicolons, with no punctuation. Instead, use the listing to show your intentions, heart, and creative approach.
Like this:
Like this:
Position: Volunteer ChefOrganization: Shady Creek ShelterDescription: Sundays are for cooking! Mom and I prepare meals using the shelter’s garden and longstanding family recipes to bring sustenance to those in need.
That looks a whole lot better than something like this:
Position: VolunteerOrganization: Local ShelterDescription: Volunteer at local shelter; cook meals; serve and distribute meals; clean up kitchen
Your activities section is not supposed to read like a resume. It's supposed to read like a high school student is describing what they do in the most authentic, unique, and personal way. The tone, style, and delivery can be magical.
READ MORE: My Tips for the 5 Trickiest Sections To Get Right on the Common App
And when someone tells you that you can't use the description field like that, ignore them. There are no rules assigned to using the description field. Be confident with being different. That's the only way to stand out in this admissions process and in life.
