How do I describe unsanctioned extracurriculars on applications?

Applying to College
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<p>Hi, I'm new to College Confidential and this is my first post. </p>

<p>I was driven to post here after challenges regarding some of my untraditional (but meanwhile) extracurriculars. During the three years of high school I've completed so far, I've been a skateboarder sponsored by a small start-up company in Northern California, started my own indy t-shirt and skateboard business with a close friend (also a junior in HS this year), acted as an occasional concert photographer for another friend who does interviews for a music magazine, and more informally collaborated with a handful of Arizona State University students on skateboard-related video projects. I have really focused on doing what I enjoy in a productive context that allows me to learn about real-world networking and relations, a strategy that I feel has allowed me to learn a huge amount about talking to people and getting things done outside the normal high school world. I have plenty of conventional ECs like debate and student government, have maintained a weighted GPA of well over 4.0 and participated in school sports. However, I still find that the aforementioned informal ECs are the ones that take up the most of my time, as well as the ones that I am most passionate about and learn the most from.</p>

<p>Basically, what I'm asking is how I should include these un-school-sanctioned, relatively informal ECs on my apps and communicate how valuable they've been to me. There's no boxes to check (besides "Other") on most applications and I don't feel as if the worth of these activities would be successfully communicated event if there WAS one.</p>

<p>Sorry for the rant, but thank you very much for your interest! :D</p>

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<p>Your use of un-sanctioned is irrelevant. Working a after school job to help make ends meet for one’s family is “un-scanctioned” but has tremendous value in the eyes of admissions officers. An extra curricular activity is anything outside the classroom. </p>

<p>Frankly, I think I would highlight the fact that you’ve been sponsored by a company as one of its representatives/spokespersons. I think the others seem to lack an “oomph”. However, your being sponsored has parallels with runners or tennis players. Your file reader will be able to understand what it is to be a sponsored athlete. Good luck to you</p>

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<p>Sanctioning is irrelevant. Documentation is what matters. Can you provide documented proof that you did what you claim?</p>

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<p>You don’t need documented proof of activities. Just provide the info on you app. I also suggest that you give your GC a copy of your activities. That may be useful to your GC when s/he writes your recommendations.</p>

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<p>^ I don’t mean signed affidavits. Just some sort of tangible recognition would be nice - in other words, a way to title what you’ve done.</p>