<p>So I'm applying to the University of Washington and it requires you to write a paragraph about up to 5 activities/awards that you have done or earned in high school. My question is...is it better to group similar activities together and write one single paragraph about it? For example: My 2nd activity could be titled NHS/Key Club since they are both similar in terms of community service and volunteering. Or is it better to separate them?</p>
<p>That’s really a judgment call. It would make sense to separate them if you had done very different things in each, maybe had a leadership role in one and not the other.</p>
<p>As a practical matter, you would be better off individually describing the 5 most important/successful items, rather than cramming in quick remarks about everything you every participated in. In class or in school awards generally aren’t worth the bother of mentioning (e.g., highest grade in AP English, perfect attendance award, treasurer of a club that met twice and didn’t even have a budget to treasure over). Focus on quality over quantity.</p>