<p>If my main extracurricular activity (lots of volunteering and even more leadership ) is being explained through one of my supplemental recs, what should I put in the Common App short essay section that asks you to describe the activity in <150 words?</p>
<p>There's absolutely no way even a concise description of this EC could fit in that space; thats why this supplemental rec. is really important. At the same time, I don't want to repeat what's in that rec. by answering that question: "I do this, I do that, etc." Should I instead portray that activity from another angle, such as through a specific example/incident?</p>
<p>Yeah, I was having the same problem. The common app prompt about your most meaningful activity (150 words) occupies what I have written my main "topic of your choice" essay about. I'm left wondering if I should double up on the topic, as in write from two angles, or choose a different activity for the 150 word prompt, or choose a different main essay. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Personally, I wrote my short answer on playing football... something that was really important to me, but only touched on briefly in my long essays/recs/etc.</p>
<p>NCguy-I think Harvard (or any school) would like to hear about your main activity in your own words instead of just through the writer of the rec. I wouldn't feel obligated to explain everything in 150 words (there's no way), so I think you're on the right track with writing about a specific anecdote or angle.</p>
<p>snafu-I think the big thing to keep in mind is not to repeat yourself. That doesn't mean you can't write about the same activity (if it's very important to you), but if you do that, you need to think of a different way of approaching it. I think you understand this already though... so just use good judgement.</p>