<p>My friends and I go to LARP events about every few months. LARP stands for live action role playing and is used to describe activities in which players physically role play their characters--kind of like live dungeons and dragons. I know that colleges want unique people with strange extracurriculars. Is this too strange a hobby to include in the common app, and does this even count as an extracurricular?</p>
<p>definitely not too strange!</p>
<p>Some colleges now play quidditch, so no, this isn’t too strange. Doing your interview in character, that would be strange.</p>
<p>Not at all too strange to include in your app, but, possibly too social. It’s fine to spend time this way with your friends, but mentioning it might not have a positive impact on your app unless there is some community service component or other societal or individual benefit to the LARP gatherings.</p>
<p>I think mentioning LARP is absolutely fine, even with highly selective schools, as long as you have other ECs on your list as well. If all you show is that you study, and in your spare time, spend every moment doing Dungeons and Dragons… well, you can see where I am going. I think mentioning LARP makes you somewhat unique – but in the description section on the Common App, make sure to be descriptive cuz “old folks” like me have no idea what LARP is…</p>
<p>I don’t think it is strange, per se, but I do agree it sounds more like socializing than an EC. I wouldn’t put things I do for entertainment like watch movies or play videogames. I wonder what skills you feel you developed from it, like are you a great costumer? Well, maybe it does show that you interact with a community and get out there and do stuff.</p>
<p>Include it if you can phrase it on your CA in a way that makes it look like it’s benefiting society or is an extracurricular in some way. If it’s an actual “club” than that may help. Don’t leave it out due to fear that it’s weird - every unique interest helps them gain a better understanding of who you are :)</p>
<p>it’s actually fun and quirky so if you like it include it. :)</p>
<p>I don’t think you need to make it sound like it is helping someone… colleges like to see that students occasionally just do stuff for enjoyment and fun, and that is okay. Admissions officers are human, and I think they sometimes get tired of seeing students doing nothing but resume building stuff. I think it is fine to include it, but you do have to at least explain a little so they know what it is. And you don’t need to dress it up as “helping someone”… “I mentored 3 boy scout troops to learn to LARP”. Nope… don’t bother, but if you do it often and enjoy it, mention it.</p>
<p>I put league of legends on my Ecs</p>
<p>who knows if that helped or hurt.</p>
<p>but if you use the word “weird” you should spell it correctly</p>
<p>It makes you sound unique, so add it, but make sure you have other serious extras that colleges can utilize.</p>