Activities description format
Common App provides 10 slots for extracurricular activities. While it is not necessary to fill all 10, competitive applicants typically list 8-10. If you have more than 10, prioritize your most significant experiences and consider including others in the Additional Information section.
Space is limited—each activity description is restricted to 150 characters, and the organization name to 100. Clear and concise writing is essential. Later in this chapter, we will review examples to help you structure your responses effectively.
Below is an example of how the activity entry appears in the Common App.
How to write a good activity description
Make descriptions specific: use numbers and action verbs
Describe what YOU have done
Describe your results, not tasks
Don't lie, exaggerate, or make up numbers
Advice for a great extracurricular description
A great extracurricular activity description needs to:
- Use strong action verbs to describe your specific contributions. Avoid vague phrases like 'participated in,' 'did,' or 'was responsible for.'
- Include numbers to quantify your impact and achievements. After all, planting 3 trees versus 300 makes a big difference, right?
- Highlight recognition, awards, and leadership experiences. Don't be modest - showcase your accomplishments.
- Use present tense for ongoing activities (e.g., 'teach English') and past tense for completed activities (e.g., 'taught English').
- Provide context for organizations in the 'Organization name' field. Admissions officers may not be familiar with local companies or non-profits from different countries. Avoid just name-dropping or using acronyms - explain them briefly.
- Highlight selectivity for competitions and positions. Whether you were elected as student government president from 100 candidates or won a scholarship among 100 participants, mention it.
- Be concise. Use only 150 characters. Start with action verbs and avoid unnecessary words like 'I'.
- Be consistent. Ensure all descriptions follow the same format, style of writing, punctuation, and capitalization.
List of action verbs
How to calculate hours spent?
Every student is responsible for calculating their own hours spent on each activity. While it doesn't have to be precise to the minute, it needs to be accurate and realistic to reflect true involvement. This is a sample calculation.
Activity: Soccer Team
| 🕐 Hours spent per week |
|---|
| + Team practices: 3 times a week for 1.5 hours |
| + Games: once in 2 weeks for 3 hours |
| (3 x 1.5) + (0.5 x 3) = 6 HOURS/WEEK |
| 📆 Weeks spent per year |
|---|
| + Fall season: 12 weeks, 1 week break |
| + Spring season: 10 weeks, 1 week break |
| (12 - 1) + (10 - 1) = 20 WEEKS/YEAR |
🗣️ veronica says...
Veronica Lee
Admissions ExpertPlease do not inflate your hours! I've seen applications where, when I added up the hours for all activities, the person claimed to spend 10 hours every single day on activities. It's unreasonable, considering you need to go to school, sleep, eat, do homework, and work on college apps.
Get feedback on your activity descriptions
Ready to refine your extracurricular activity descriptions? We'll help you showcase your achievements and impact in just 150 characters. Submit your descriptions below for detailed feedback!