Standard Format for listing activities and awards?

Applying to College
1

<p>My son is completing some online applications and we'd like to know if there is a standard way to list activities. I have unsuccessfully searched the internet and looked around here, too (although I may have missed good info).</p>

<p>His ec's are somewhat limited, but he is an athlete in high school. He will be applying to some junior colleges and smaller schools (hoping to play) and some larger schools (not planning to play).</p>

<p>So, on the apps for the colleges where he cannot expect to play, would something like this be good: </p>

<p>School Athletics
Baseball, Varsity, starting position, Spring 2012
Baseball, Varsity, starting position, Spring 2011
Baseball, Junior Varsity, Spring 2010
Baseball, Sophomore, Spring 2009
Swimming, Varsity, Winter 2008
--Set school record for ---- . Winter 2008
Summer Baseball, Summer 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008
Fall Baseball, Fall 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008</p>

<p>Select Athletics
_____ Baseball, Summer 2011
_____ Baseball, Fall 2010
______ Baseball, Summer 2010
______ Baseball, Fall 2009
<strong><em>Baseball, Summer 2009
_</em></strong>, Summer 2008</p>

<p>He has been a member of one club and has less than 60 hours of service for his whole high school experience. Do we list those anyway?</p>

<p>He has held summer jobs for two summers. </p>

<p>Oh, and if there is an article or post about the format that the admissions folks would prefer, please point me to it!</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>I don’t think there is any standard. What you put looks good on the page.</p>

3

<p>Thank you. </p>

<p>Do you have an opinion about listing the service hours? I guess listing what he is did better than listing nothing… but I am not sure.</p>

<p>These apps for the few colleges that invited him to apply and waived the fee. But apps are due 10/31/11.</p>

4

<p>I agree. There is no standard. Some students feel that the spaces for activities and honors are too limited, so they choose to put a resume–yours look good–in the additional info section.</p>

<p>My son, instead of attaching a resume, he choose to “group” his same or similar awards altogether to save spaces. For example, he would put “Baseball, Varsity, starting position” in one space and checked out 11th and 12th grades.</p>

<p>But that’s just a way my son does in his common app. The one you listed is fine too.</p>

5

<p>Leah</p>

<p>On clubs and community service.</p>

<p>I would probably list the club, and might list the community service but probably would not include the hours.</p>

<p>There is an open question as to how much community service matters – with my D last year, I recall, that some schools seem to say they care. On the other hand, one of the points in thread started by an MIT admissions officer (which is really excellent if you can find it – it discusses a number of issues and may be the best thread ever on CC) was that they really don’t care about community service per se, and don’t fully understand why everyone makes such a big deal about it. I suppose it depends from school to school.</p>

<p>In any event, <60 hours over 3+ years will not show any kind of commitment (not a criticism at all, just a statement of fact)</p>

<p>I might do something like</p>

<p>"Community Service<br>
XXXXXX Food Drive 9th & 10th Grade
YYYYYY Clothing Drive etc.</p>

<p>Show that he was involved, but not make a huge deal out of it. Just my two cents, though.</p>

<p>Also, if your son has any significant non-school activities, make sure to list them. For example, my D’s main activity was Karate, which she studied for 8 years. Not within the school, so technically not an EC, but we listed it as such (and included a letter of rec from her Teacher).</p>

<p>Yes to including summer jobs.</p>

6

<p>Thank you.</p>

<p>Another question just occurred to me and rather than post separately, I’ll try asking here… </p>

<p>My son has had music lessons in the past, but stopped in high school. He has had piano, violin, viola and electric guitar. And some drums.</p>

<p>He spends time almost every day playing/practicing electric guitar. I guess I just take it for granted, but it is an interest and he is progressing in his learning.</p>

<p>Is this something to try to convey on application? If so, any suggestions as to how?</p>

<p>Music
Electric guitar</p>

<p>doesn’t say much. </p>

<p>(His past education included private lessons, reading music and music theory. But this was before high school. My husband is a professional musician and so my son has a built in expert when he has questions. My point is that I think there has been a progressing in his knowledge, but obviously not as much as if he were taking formal lessons.)</p>

<p>You guys have been a great help! Thanks so much.</p>

7

<p>Leah, how about something like this (assuming your son started his music lessons in 2002)</p>

<p>Music:
Electric guitar 2002-present
Piano, violin, viola and drums 2002-2008 </p>

<p>Then he can probably write his music activities in one of his essays. But be caution: some colleges do not want students listed everything they have done since small. There is a fine line to list or not to list activities before high school.</p>

8

<p>If he has a band, you could list this too. Otherwise, ylm’s format looks good.</p>

9

<p>ylm, Yes, that does look good. Thanks. I understand your point about the before high school activities. The only reason to show it is to show he has some formal education in music. We will have to think about the pros and cons of including it. My son will want to leave it off, I think.</p>

<p>zephyr15, no band, but good point. </p>

<p>Thanks again!</p>

10

<p>I searched for the thread about community service and couldn’t find it, but I did find the MIT admissions officer is MITChris. There is this interesting blog post written by him: Applying Sideways: [Applying</a> Sideways | MIT Admissions](<a href=“http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/applying_sideways]Applying”>Applying Sideways | MIT Admissions). </p>

<p>I will spend some time looking for it again later and if I find it, I will post it here.</p>

11

<p>Haha, I just checked my son’s app. He only listed things he has done after 8th grade, although he started composing music ever since 4th grade.</p>

<p>Regarding to community services, I think zephyr15 is right. Some schools care, and some don’t. I remember the MIT post too.</p>

12

<p>I think this is it.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1193457-esse-quam-videri-how-do-college-applications.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1193457-esse-quam-videri-how-do-college-applications.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

13

<p>"If an institution doesn’t appreciate applicants for who they are, then the applicants will ultimately be much better off in places where they will be appreciated, particularly if they have the freedom to be themselves. "
—>This is such an excellent reminder. Now I read it again. It reduced my stress level (from first kid’s college application process) quite a bit! Thanks, zephyr15.</p>

14

<p>I read both MIT blogs and they are very helpful. </p>

<p>In fact, eye-opening. I thought how it was that almost as soon as kids enter adolescence, we are suggesting activities or things with an eye to the college admissions process. These kids don’t know themselves yet. </p>

<p>Well, I am just saying what the article said, but not nearly as well. Thanks so much for the recommendation to read them and for finding them for me!</p>

<p>On another note, I found a sample resume on the UTAustin site. I know my original question was about how to complete the ec section of the application, but this resume is worth looking at. (Well, it was for me. I had only found information about how to build one, but had not seen a sample.) </p>

<p>There is a section for “Musical Instruments” and in that section, it says “Played various horns since 3rd grade.” (The applicant is Bevo Longhorn, btw. Ha!)</p>

<p>[Expanded</a> Resumes | Be a Longhorn](<a href=“http://bealonghorn.utexas.edu/freshmen/admission/resume]Expanded”>http://bealonghorn.utexas.edu/freshmen/admission/resume)
Click on “resume suggestions”</p>

<p>Thanks again!</p>

<p>Leah</p>

15

<p>Leah, thanks for sharing! Good luck to your son (and my son too)!</p>

16

<p>Good luck to both of your sons!!!</p>

<p>(My youngest is a freshman at college this year – and I can say from experience, that the applications do get done, and the process does work!!).</p>

17

<p>Yes, good luck to them both!</p>