<p>I've heard from peers that CommonApp restricts the extracurricular activity box to 7 activities. However, I can name about 8-9 that I could put on there where I have a leadership position, have been committed to it for many years, or can really explain the significance of an experience behind it.</p>
<p>Such examples are President of the Rotary Interact Club at my school, to playing piano for 9 years, to being on varsity cross-country for two years (more versatility?)</p>
<p>I'm actually President of about.. 4 clubs. I'm a "Captain" for a team, and am pretty much equipped with many leadership positions.</p>
<p>Will colleges look down at this? I've been warned not to "spread myself thin" -- but as long as there's significance behind each position I lead, and each experience I describe.. isn't that enough?</p>
<p>Just an outlook:
- Captain of Speech and Debate (lots of awards here too -- both nationally and state-level)
- Student Body Secretary (Student Council for 4 years)
- President of NHS, Interact, Youth in Government
- Piano (9 years)
- Cross-country (2 years)</p>
<p>That already gives me 7 "spots" to fill in my CommonApp. I'm actually planning on reviving the Red Cross chapter at my school -- giving me 8, and I already have more. I'll also be participating in Boys State this summer, giving me more "Credentials," I guess.</p>
<p>Is there a problem with this? Am I really spreading myself thin?</p>
<ul>
<li>Also, at the same time, if my grades are good but not amazing -- but I have a lot of extracurriculars, does that look bad in general?</li>
</ul>
<p>“Is there a problem with this? Am I really spreading myself thin?”</p>
<p>Are you able to carry out your leadership responsibilities or are you a leader in name only. Some people successfully can juggle lots of major responsibilities. I know a single mom who’s a businesswoman who’s good at her work and is an active member on 12 boards. </p>
<p>There are, however, many students who’ll eagerly sign up to be officers for many activities because they want to dress up their resumes. However, in reality, they aren’t doing anything with their offices. The relatively few colleges that use ECs when it comes to admission aren’t looking for people like that. In case you’re wondering, interviews are how such colleges can tell when ECs are in name only. Students who use leadership positions only for resume dressing can’t answer well questions about what they’ve contributed to an organization; what challenges they’ve faced; what projects they’ve initiated; what they’ve learned through their experiences as a leader. </p>
<p>Only you can determine the answer to your question about whether to take on another leadership position.</p>
<p>I’ve been wondering about this question too…shouldn’t the common app allow you to have some small space underneath each EC to explain your activities?</p>
<p>Northstarmom:</p>
<p>"In case you’re wondering, interviews are how such colleges can tell when ECs are in name only. "</p>
<p>What about for those people that don’t even have interviews or letters of recommendations, and only essays?</p>
<p>Now this is a more specific question concerning me: I’ve read that I shouldn’t put down sports as an activity unless I’m planning on pursuing it in college. Should I put something like President of Red Cross over being on Varsity Cross-Country for two years? I honestly think having 4 “Presidencies” over clubs just looks… “fake” of me, so to speak. At the same time, I still want to acknowledge that I did all of this – I looked at the CommonApp for 09-10 (the preview) and it looks like there isn’t a lot of room to explain much either. What do you think?</p>