What should I do if I have more than 10 activities for my common app

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
1

These are my activities:

  1. Columbia High School Law Institute
  2. Manhattan School of Music Precollege Classical Cellist
  3. Managing Editor of my School’s Newspaper (award winning)
  4. Animal Care & Rights Volunteer (volunteer at an animal shelter, and as a phone banker)
  5. School Mock Trial (Competitive team) captain
  6. Math tutor for girls at local public schools (every week, 1 hour)
  7. Music Outreach (Give free individual cello lessons, play for shelter animals)
  8. Varsity Crew Team
  9. Competitive Archer
  10. Editor-in-chief of law focused publication at my school
  11. Classical sax (graduate of Juilliard’s program)
  12. Classical piano
2

You could combine the last two. Lots of students have more than 12 - you decide which are the most important.

3

that’s still 11 thought - what should i do?

4

List the 10 most important. Use the additional info section for overflow if you desire

5

Combine the editorial work too.

6

First, note they ask you to list in order of importance to you. Be careful how you list reflects which are more relevant to the college and your possible major.

The law institute might appear under ‘additional programs attended,’ or addl courses, check how it’s asked. Adcoms will see it there.

The point is to get your activities listed, even if the wording is tight, let them see these in this section. Then, as ski says, use Addl Info IF (only if) something needs a few more words. A few. They don’t need lengthy, they understand most of what kids do.

7

You could easily combine 7 with either 11 and 12 or with 2 and 4 - cello lessons added to cellist and playing for animals with humane center work.

8

You can list activities within broader categories (e.g., Law-related/legal activities can include Law Institute and Mock Trial; Music performance can include cello, sax, and piano; Music outreach can include teaching and volunteering; sports can include archery and crew).