<p>So, I am filling out my common app, and the last thing I have to do is the short answer. it asks for me to describe one of my extra curricular activities. I just want to know what they are looking for in the content and any tips.</p>
<p>I was wondering about that too...how formal should it be?</p>
<p>In the application as a whole, they are trying to figure out who you are. So in the short essay, I would not do a "description" of one of your extra curricular activities, but rather think about finding a way of showing what drew you to that activity, what it meant to you, how it changed your perspective, how it added "fun to your busy hs life, how it changed/affected/solidified your perception of yourself or how others perceive you. (Not ALL of those, of course! Just some ideas.)</p>
<p>They don't actually want to know about your activity, they want to know about you.</p>