<p>For example, my marching band has ~100 people. If we, say, made first place at an area competition, would I include that, even though I'm 1% of the effort?</p>
<p>Also, right now I have a minor leadership role (section leader of saxophones, which is the largest section in the band). If we got first place both last year, when I didn't have a position, and this year, when I did, would I only include the victory in which I had a position, both, or neither?</p>
<p>Put “Marching Band Section Leader” or something in the Position title for your Activity in the “music - instrumental section.” In details, write that the team made 1st place at said competition two years in a row.</p>
<p>On a similar note, should I include that my high school swim team won the state championship even though I wasn’t on the actual state team (I was on varsity)?</p>
<p>In both cases I would include the award IF you were on the team (performing at the actual competition) that did it. If you weren’t (“did not have a position” or “wasn’t on the actual state team”), I would say no. So the OP should put the second year on, not the first. And the swimming award doesn’t go on at all, I think.</p>
<p>I think “Not having a position” implies that he didn’t have leadership (wasn’t section leader) not that he wasn’t in the band that won. I think ev erything in the first post is fine, but not the swimming thing.</p>
<p>Oh, if that is the case, then I agree. But if “not having a position” means not marching on the field during the competition, then I would hesitate to put it down. Some bands have a set number of slots, not everyone in the ensemble actually performs in competition (they like reserves or the practice squad).</p>
<p>Now if the band goes to states or if he is selected for all-state individually, does that go on activities or state honors?</p>
<p>I am confused because my son’s friends who have gone to state debate tournaments and won are including that in the honors section. The All-State and national muscians have been instructed to place that in the activities section of the Common App.</p>
<p>Where is the correct placement? Thanks!</p>
<p>I am not sure it matters as long as it is clear somewhere on the form. The colleges know that different GCs tell kids to put stuff in different spots. As long as they are not claiming honors or awards that they were not actually part of, it probably doesn’t matter. They will still get credit in the eyes of admissions. :)</p>
<p>mythreesons1144, it probably doesn’t matter, but I would put them in Honors. Being in the band is the “activity”; being selected for all-state is the honor.</p>
<p>Thank you intparent and Chedva. 
</p>
<p>The advice I had given to my son concurs with your answer - The activity itself consists of being a part of the debate team or the band. But winning states or going to nationals is an honor. Unfortunately, the counselor disagreed with me…</p>
<p>The counselor said that the honors section was for academics only and instructed him to put all of his honor societies, plus AP Scholar and National Merit in the honors section. This still accounted for more than five spaces. </p>
<p>I suggested that he try to fit the honor societies all in one honors space, include national merit and AP scholar in the next two and that will leave one space for All-State Music honors and one space for Nationals. Local and county could be be listed under activities, but I think that the national and all-state honors are important.</p>
<p>Usually, All-State is also an activity. I know it’s skill based, but you aren’t individually singled out the way, say, when winning a competition or an award. </p>
<p>Adcoms know band is time intensive. I’d say, in the description, think about including, “1st place in State,” somehow, to reflect the achievement of the “team.” I think your role as section leader in a 1st place team sounds good.</p>
<p>But, all this is going to be about how much else and how it appears, sum total. They will see each section. There’s a fine line to be walked between tooting your own horn and elevating something that could go elsewhere. That said, just do the best you can.</p>
<p>All depends on the colleges you’re aiming for, I guess. But AP Scholar is pretty obvious, on the app, without mentioning it.</p>
<p>I haven’t looked at this year’s revised common app, so am not sure if you can still fill in/upload additional information. If you can, my kids used that section to expand a bit (only enough to make sure it was clear) in areas where they had a lot of accomplishments. For instance, one of my kids had quite a few top finishes and awards in Quiz Bowl. She just put Quiz Bowl in the activities section, and “see additional info” in the comment for that. Then bulleted out her accomplishments in the additional info section. Worked for her, she got in everywhere she applied, including some top schools.</p>
<p>Good advice intparent. </p>
<p>There is an additional information section this year as well. You can type, but not upload information in this section. </p>
<p>Additionally, there are a few schools (although not many on our list…) that will still allow you to upload a resume in the supplement section. Fabulous if you can use this asset!</p>