I have a lot of extracurriculars, and I don’t know which ones to put on my common app since there are only 10 spaces. I plan on studying business and computer science.
I run my school’s coffee shop, and I will definitely put that on there.
My other top ECs are:
Girls State
Spanish Club executive
FBLA chapter president/founder
School newspaper writer
I also wrote articles about my interviews with women in business for my school’s media page
Layout editor for my school’s literary magazine
Youth and Government Committee Chair
Club Volleyball team captain (freshman year only)
Varsity volleyball (freshman and sophomore year)
Started a charity that benefits a children’s hospital, which I did for 10 years and raised $35,000. The last year was freshman year.
I started an initiative to make more public art through a summer program near me. I was able to use a local high school to build a bench, then I worked with a local children’s charity where they made a design for it and painted it. It is located at that charity now.
Peer tutor
Volunteered at a women’s shelter for 2 weeks (40 hours), but it was required by my school
I’ve had 4 part-time jobs (not at the same time) from sophomore to senior year
Thank you for any feedback! Also, if you have any tips for keeping the descriptions concise I would appreciate that!
I can combine these into 11 activities, and you have 10 slots. If you have to drop one which would it be?
Coffee shop manager
Spanish Club
Girls State
FBLA
Combine writing/editor activities: newspaper, media page, layout editor
Combine club and varsity volleyball
Tutor
Volunteer Work
Combine other jobs
Charity: (but I don’t understand how you did that for 10 years and finished as a freshman)?
Public art initiative: although a nice project, this is the one I might drop at first blush (of course I don’t have the context that you do)
Put the final 10 in order of the most meaningful to you.
It’s ok to write the activity descriptions in sentence fragments, e.g., start with an action verb. The college essay guy’s website has some great examples of descriptions for a wide range of activities. Use those for a guide, of course don’t copy them.
3 Likes
You do not need to fill all 10 spots. Think Quality over quantity. 5 to 6 is more than enough.
Based on you major - spend time highlighting related areas, like the school shop. That is excellent.
Do not include something you did for two weeks that was required unless it changed your life plans.
Do not include activities you only did Freshman year. Show continued involvement and taking on leadership.
Do no include a smattering of part-time jobs unless there is some angle. 2 plus years at the same job - great.
1 Like