How to Fill Out the Common App Activities Section in 2024 (The RIGHT Way)

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Every admissions cycle, students ask us how to fill out the activities list section of the Common App. Which is why in this article, I’ll be sharing our top eight tips to help you excel in this section! 

First, let me introduce myself. I'm Kevin Zhen, a Yale grad and co-founder of the ElevatEd School, where we teach critical thinking and storytelling. Our firm also assists with transfer applications, interview workshops, resumes, boarding school applications, and summer programs. If you need help in any of these areas, check out the Services tab on our website! 

Returning to the activities section, let's review what the Common App asks for:

1. Activity type, position/leadership description (max 50 characters)

2. Organization name (max 100 characters)

3. Accomplishments/recognition and a description of the activity (150 characters)

4. Participation grade levels

5. Timing of participation

6. Hours spent per week

7. Weeks spent per year

8. And finally, a yes/no button indicating if you intend to participate in a similar activity in college
   

Tip #1: Be Consistent

If you mention in your essays that you want to study biology and go to med school, check "yes" for all related activities. Even tangential ones related to research or volunteering should have that "yes" checkbox. Inconsistency here can raise red flags. End of story. 

Tip #2: Make Every Single Character Count

Here's an example: instead of just writing "President," you could write "Senior Class President 12, Elections Committee Head 11." This showcases your trajectory within the organization, highlighting multiple roles and contributions. 

If you don't hold other leadership positions, get hyper-specific about your contributions and responsibilities. Instead of "Intern," write "Social Media Marketing Intern - SEO Optimization" or "Genetic Basis Identification Researcher."

Tip #3: Spell Out Acronyms When in doubt, spell out your acronyms. Admissions readers might not be familiar with all the acronyms, especially for international applicants. Some have even admitted they’re really annoyed when students put a ton of acronyms they’ve never heard of… so to be on the safe side, spell them out! 

Tip #4: Quantify Your Impact

Consider the total number of hours you've dedicated to each extracurricular: hours per week times weeks per year times total years participated. Also, quantify the impact you've had on others! How many people have you helped, and how did you help them?

Tip #5: Use Strong Verbs and Numbers

Instead of writing, "I’m responsible for running swim practices, planning fundraising events, and assisting in recruiting new swimmers," try, "Led 5am practices three times a week, organized 12 fundraisers totaling over $2K, recruited 18 new swimmers in six weeks through word-of-mouth referral campaign." 

#s communicate big impact in few chars. 

Tip #6: Add Color and Personality

For lower-ranked activities, don't be afraid to add color and personality. Instead of "Tutored fourth graders in math," try, "Taught fourth graders how to multiply fractions; they taught me how to play Roblox on an iPad." 

 is a little bit more of a risky approach, but I’ve seen it pay off time and time again! 

Tip #7: Use the Additional Information Section

Probably the most important tip! You can put honors and awards related to an activity in the Additional Information section. Admissions officers want to see tangible impact and leadership in the activity description, not just a list of awards.

Tip #8: Be Honest

Never, ever exaggerate in your activities list, especially in the hours per week and weeks per year parts. Admissions readers will do the math, and if the numbers don’t add up… it could raise alarms and directly affect your admission chances.

Conclusion 

Filling out the Common App activities section can feel like navigating a labyrinth, but with these tips, you’re well on your way to getting through! 

Remember, each detail you include is an opportunity to showcase how far you’ve come. Consistency, clarity, and a touch of personality will help you stand out from the crowd. And if you need extra support, don’t hesitate to reach out—at ElevatEd, we're here to help you shine. 

We’re furiously rooting for you! 

Your virtual big brother,

Kevin Zhen