How to Write the Activities and Additional Information Sections of the Common Application

For students in a hurry, the Activities section of the Common Application appears to be a fill-in-the-blank. However, rushing through it is not a good idea. The Activities section is the foundation upon which the entire application structure is built! It’s an essential and critical piece of the applicant’s holistic picture. 

There are only ten slots and 300 characters total to tell the admissions rep why each activity matters and how it furthers your story. It’s important to think about why an activity matters. Is it more important to share that you led the team in goals or that you started the Compliment Box on your soccer team to counteract the competitive vibe between players? The answer depends on you so we’ll decide that together!

When a student has more than ten activities, we use the Additional Information section strategically to expand on their interests.