Can't elaborate Extracurricular Activities on Common APP - is there anyway to?

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
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<p>Today I was filling out the application forms for UNC and Georgia Tech, and noticed something about their applications (they don't accept common app).</p>

<p>The most important thing that struck me was the amount of elaboration they allow in their "Activities" section.</p>

<p>Like the common app they provide one line to name the activity and check what years you have been involved and hrs/week ,etc.</p>

<p>UNLIKE the common app however they have a HUGE area (unlimited space for Georgia Tech) to explain your INVOLVEMENT, commitments, and achievements, alongside the leadership positions you have achieved.</p>

<p>This was great because I got a chance to explain all that I have done in each of my activities. I thought this was VERY important because someone just looking at the activity name could not in any way guess what I have done in there. For example, the club or activity may be more than meets the eye. Perhaps I have done a wide range of activities that benefited a lot of people/groups and had significance and that did not gain me any leadership positions but were still very important.</p>

<p>The common app does not leave you ANY room whatsoever to elaborate on your activities.
It has only one line with very limited characters to "name" your activity.</p>

<p>Now I know that you can attach a resume, which I have done, but a resume is not a place where you talk about your activities, you just list them, which is the same thing that common app does.</p>

<p>This is why I believe the independent forms are much stronger in this area and give more insight about the accomplishments of the student.</p>

<p>MY QUESTION IS: Is it normal to just name your activity in common app, or is there something that I am not aware of that will allow me to tell the colleges what I have done in each activity?</p>

<p>I would appreciate it if anyone can clarify this because I believe that I just left a huge chunk of information about my accomplishments just because of the way the common app is set up, and I feel that maybe I am already rejected in soem of the places that I applied because of this.</p>

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<p><can’t elaborate=“” extracurricular=“” activities=“” on=“” common=“” app=“” -=“” is=“” there=“” anyway=“” to?=“”></can’t></p>

<p>Yes. Attach a document and elaborate.</p>

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<p>A resume does give you some leeway in expanding on your activities. For example, rather than just saying you were in drama club for 4 years, you can list the plays and roles that you had. You can be much more specific about your volunteer work, etc. If you really want to discuss one of activities in depth, you can use the essay for that.</p>

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<p>well I have already applied to a bunch of universities. Should I call them and say that I have some updates, or discluded info from common app because I was unsure about how it worked and send them separately?</p>

<p>This really worries me because I feel like I may get rejected from all the places just for this…</p>

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<p>bump - sorry im worried
Should I call the universities I applied, telling them that I need to send updates or was unable to include info about ECs dude to lack of knowledge? Should I let the universities know of this?</p>

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<p>^Yes. But do that after you sent them so they won’t review your file until after they receive your stuff.</p>

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<p>Hey thanks, I guess Ill call them and send a word file listing my activities with with explanations for each of them on the side.</p>

<p>I hope they say its OK</p>

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<p>does anyone know for the 2011 commonapp where can you type the activity name? There is only a dropdown list and what happens if your activity is not among the list? Do we have to type it onto the description line?</p>

<p>For example: I do MUN, so I choose Student Gov/Politics and type MUN on the description line?</p>

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<p>^^ Um, I guess it would go in the description line? If you held a leadership position, you could also type it in to the line right next to the pull down box. Such as “MUN Vice President.” I did that for a few. But perhaps its unnecessary to name the exact club, they may not really care what variation of club it is as long as they know its a student gov or debate or cultural etc club.</p>

<p>&Also: Deniz, you’ve already submitted the app for some schools! Ah you’re making me feel so behind, I am no where close!</p>

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<p>I wanted to get more feedback on this topic, cause I really want to know the same thing. Bump!</p>

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<p>@ nattilee - Eiswein bumped this thread from last application season. Deniz’s last post is from January. My guess is they are about to leave for college. :)</p>

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<p>@caramount really you bumped a year old thread instead of making a new one or reading it?</p>

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<p>activities list</p>

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<p>Ahh, sorry if I’m bumping a ridiculously old thread as well, but regarding resumes:</p>

<p>Should you attach a resume for every activity, or should you only attach a resume for one or two activities?</p>

<p>Is anyone willing to show their resume? I’m still not sure how a resume is supposed to look like.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>I won’t show you mine but UC Irvine & Purdue have examples of how to write them on their sites.</p>

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<p>I’ve checked out their examples, and I must say, thank you, those helped a lot!</p>

<p>Unfortunately, I’m still a bit slow with things. :frowning: When your resume is written, should it only elaborate on one activity, such as your accomplishments in flute;</p>

<p>or should it elaborate on all your activities and add details that couldn’t be written down in the activities list, like elaborating on your basketball, baseball, community service achievements, and your computer skills?</p>