Hi! I am thinking about applying as an undergraduate to a number of selective universities and am unsure about some aspects of my app.
I am one of about ten moderators on a gaming subreddit based around the mobile game Clash of Clans, and am unsure whether I should include that fact on my common app. On one hand, this is a leadership position where I have to help manage the ~90k subscribers, but on the other hand it seems like a kind of pointless achievement: Clash of Clans is considered a very juvenile game and it may seem sort of a waste of my life to moderate a forum about it. I wonder whether this position would reflect favorably or unfavorably on me as an applicant. Gaming is not that integral to my identity and I do not plan to major in a related field. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!
How much do you expect the adcoms to know about video games? I don’t think it’s quite the same as moderating a game of tic tac toe:-)
How much time do you devote to this activity? Are you paid? Are you required to spend a certain amount of time or contribute a certain amount of postings? Are you expected to do this regularly? If you only spend an hour a week doing it, then maybe not, but if any of the other criteria are involved, then I say you should list it.
Thanks for the reply.
I do spend a decent amount of time on it so I think I will list it. Not paid, although a certain level of activity is expected of me.
What level of “selective?” That matters. The higher the tier, don’t expect them to see it as the same as face-to face interaction or leading through service. They want an idea of how you’ll engage on campus. If you list it, I might say to drop it down after other activities.