Filling out common app

Filling out common app

 · We can help you prep for the ACT®!blogger.com the SAT® course instead? Our SAT® course is out! Start prepp  · The Common App activities section is an opportunity to demonstrate to the Common App colleges your talents, skills, and specific examples of extracurricular activities you’ve participated in over the last few years  · So students only have to fill out details that most schools require, including name, address, parental employment and education and extracurricular activities,

How to Fill Out the Common App Activities Section

Our chancing engine factors in extracurricular activities, demographics, and other holistic details. Our chancing engine factors in extracurricular activities, demographic, and other holistic details.

The activities section is one of the most important parts of your application, particularly if you are applying to very selective colleges. Many students filling out common app apply to these schools have top GPAs and test scores, so extracurricular activities are one of the best ways to differentiate yourself from the rest of the applicant pool and make yourself stand out as an exceptional candidate.

Colleges want to know what your life is like outside of the classroom. Have you developed strong interests over time? Are you a leader? They are looking for students who are potential pioneers in their future fields. While college is certainly a place to explore new interests, admissions committees want to see that you have an idea of the kinds of activities about which you are curious and at which might excel, so that college will nurture these talents and push you to succeed further.

You should spend some time considering what to include in the activities section of the Common Application, filling out common app. There are certain limits, so it is essential to be selective and concise.

Unlike your education and testing, you have control over what to include and how to describe your activities, so you should put some thought into it. Want free essay filling out common app Get access to our expert guides and courses when you create your free CollegeVine account. Read our guide on How to Write the Common App Essays. The Common Application offers a drop-down menu with the following activities from which to select:.

For each activity you include on your application, choose the appropriate category. If you find that a particular extracurricular activity fits into multiple categories, choose the more specific one e.

If the activity fits into two equally specific categories, choose the more relevant one. You will have the opportunity to expand in the description if you need to do so. Since the list is fairly broad, filling out common app, you will probably find that your activity fits into at least one of the sections available.

In this case, unless the filling out common app and organization names are fairly self-explanatory or very recognizable, you will need to be a bit more specific in your description. Armed Forces. Accordingly, filling out common app should only list that activity if you actually participate in that specific organization.

If it seems like you are choosing one category for everything, try to diversify a bit and think about how activities can be related without being exactly the same thing. Want to make sure your extracurricular profile is specialized enough? Calculate your chances to see how strong your extracurriculars are. Both categories filling out common app that you are a driven leader, filling out common app, but they present different facets of your personality.

The activities section has a limit of ten extracurricular activities. The restrictions mean you will need to be selective in reporting your activities, limiting you to the most important ones or those that are most meaningful to you. If you need to add more activities, filling out common app, use the additional information section or your essay if you choose a relevant topic.

Many schools allow you to submit a resume in addition to your application. Not only does doing so allow you to include more extracurricular activities, but also provides more space for you to expand on the descriptions of your activities since you are not limited to a certain number of characters.

Keep in mind that some schools report in-school activities such as student government, clubs, and awards on the transcripts they will send to colleges on your behalf. Review your transcript or check with your guidance counselor to see if this is the case at your school, because if it is, it may not be necessary to repeat it in the activities section.

You will be able to report more activities this way if that is a concern for you. For each activity, the form will ask you in which grade levels you participated in the extracurricular activity, the timing of your participation school year vs. school breakfilling out common app, and how many hours you spent on it per week and weeks per year.

These questions can help you narrow down which activities you include since you should only be adding the ones to which you are truly dedicated. Colleges want to see that you are committed to your activities because that indicates a passion for something outside of academics that you will bring to college and hopefully beyond.

Bear in mind that activities you took on later in high school are more meaningful than those you participated in earlier. If you played tennis all four years of high school and became captain of your school team senior year, that is an activity to include in this section.

There may be some activities that are naturally limited to a set time period or commitment, such as a summer academic program or sports camp, filling out common app. You will have a chance to indicate the timing of the activity — during school year, school break, or all year — and colleges will take that into consideration when evaluating the activity.

Additionally, if you have participated in related activities, colleges will see the pattern of your interest and commitment. After you choose the activity type, the application will ask you to describe the position you held or hold and the organization name. This section is limited to 50 characters.

Be as specific as possible here. You should also be specific in defining the organization. If it has a name, say it, filling out common app, and define what it is if that is unclear. Filling out common app the activity is typically referred to by an acronym, be sure to list the full name, as you never want to assume that admissions committees will be familiar with the activity to which you are referring.

You are limited to characters for details, accomplishments, honors won, and accomplishments within each activity, filling out common app, so you will need to be concise and offer only the most pertinent details.

If you absolutely need more room to thoroughly explain truly important details about the activity, use the additional information section to expand, or describe it in more detail in your essay if it relates to the topic you choose.

Remember that this section is not there for you to prove your eloquence as a writer; you have filling out common app essay to do that. Rather, this serves to inform the admissions committee about your life outside school as succinctly as possible. Use active verbs and limit the use of adjectives and adverbs. Be as specific as you can be in the space available. If you hold a leadership position, emphasize that role in your description. Try to focus on quantitative descriptions over qualitative ones, filling out common app.

Adding numerical values offers concrete proof of your successand can show colleges how you were involved specifically. Filling out common app you are a leader in the activity, mention how many members the group has, how many filling out common app you serve if applicablehow many people your work affected, and so on. Try not to be redundant, especially considering the limited space.

If you want to talk about the actual tutoring in more detail, discuss your approach — e. Is your profile strong enough to impress admissions officers? Our chancing engine takes into consideration extracurricular activities, GPA, and more to give you an accurate idea of your admissions chances. Sign up now to get started for free. Filling out common app describe this activity, including what you accomplished and any recognition you received, etc.

The application will ask you in which grade levels you participated in a particular activity, filling out common app. The key is as follows:. If you participated in an activity over the summer between grade levels, choose the rising or later filling out common app level e.

However, it does need to be realistic. If you are having trouble estimating your time commitment, try keeping a time log for a couple weeks and provide an average.

The last question for each activity asks you whether or not you plan to continue a similar extracurricular activity in college. The application asks this because colleges want to know what kind of student you will be when you arrive. Remember, filling out common app, they are looking for a diverse student body filled with future leaders in respective their fields. If you intend to continue a particular pursuit in college, it shows them that you are truly interested and dedicated to it, filling out common app.

To some degree, filling out common app, they also want to see that you are doing the activity because you are truly passionate about it, not just because you want to impress colleges. Also keep in mind that just because you intend to continue the activity in college at this point does not mean you are obligated to do so when you actually matriculate.

Colleges may give your name to members of a club, organization, or activity in which you participate so they can follow up with you, but you are by no means bound to joining when you begin college unless, of course, you are accepted on an athletic or other scholarship that requires your participation in a certain activity.

List your activities in order of importance. To delete an activity, move it to the bottom of the list and click delete icon. You can also simply edit the activity to reflect a different one. You may want filling out common app start by watching the short tutorial video available at the top of the section to get started.

Try not to feel too overwhelmed — college applications take a lot of work, but the reward is well worth it. Your chances of acceptance are what make a school a safety, target, or reach. This tool will let you know your odds of acceptance, and give you tips on improving your profile.

You can also search for schools based on preferences like location, major, cost, and more. Give it a try to get a jumpstart on your college strategy. Laura Berlinsky-Schine August 14, 9 min read Applying to CollegeCommon AppExtracurricular Activities.

Calculate your acceptance chances. Writing the Description You are limited to characters for details, accomplishments, honors won, and accomplishments within each activity, so you will need to be concise and offer only the most pertinent details.

Participating Grade Levels The application will ask you in which grade levels you participated in a particular activity. The key is as follows: High School Grades Post-graduate : After High School If you participated in an activity over the summer between grade levels, choose the rising or later grade level e. Participation in College The last question for each activity asks you whether or not you plan to continue a similar extracurricular activity in college. A Few Other Considerations List your activities in order of importance.

Watch our latest video on filling out the Common App Activities section:. Want more college admissions tips? We'll send you information to help you throughout the college admissions process.

Loved the article?

HOW TO FILL OUT THE COMMON APP ACTIVITIES SECTION!!!

, time: 9:31

How to Fill Out the Common Application | CollegeXpress

 · HOW TO FILL OUT THE COMMON APP ACTIVITIES SECTION!!!In today's video, I discuss my tips for tackling the activities section on the Common Application!Thanks  · So students only have to fill out details that most schools require, including name, address, parental employment and education and extracurricular activities, College application process. Deciding when to apply: Early vs regular decision. Filling out the college application: Common application walkthrough. This is the currently selected item. College application checklist. Applying to the right number of colleges. Receiving an admissions decision: Admit, deny, or waitlist. Next lesson