Common App Activities Section: Tips and Examples

Common App Activities Section

Compared to writing college essays, filling out the Common App activities section should be simple, right? While your responses will be short, creating a compelling Common App activities list requires a bit of strategy. To impress admissions officers, you’ll need to be succinct and specific.

In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how to approach the Common App activities section, with tips from a former admissions officer and one of our senior advisors. Specifically, we’ll cover:

• What the Common App activities section is
• How many activities you can include and the character limits
• How to describe your activities effectively
• What strong Common App activity descriptions look like, and more!

Before we take a look at some Common App activities section examples, let’s start with an overview of what the activities list is.

What is the Common App activities section?

The Common App activities section is where students report their extracurricular activities. Besides typical school-based extracurriculars like sports and clubs, Common App activities can include the things you do outside of school. Activities like a part-time job, family responsibilities, and even your hobbies can count.

To account for all the different things students do, the Common App has options. There are several categories you can choose from when adding activities. Those categories are:

• Arts or music
• Clubs
• Community engagement
• Family responsibilities
• Hobbies
• Sports
• Work or volunteering
• Other experiences that have been meaningful to you

While your Common App essays add depth to your application, the Common App activities section allows you to add breadth. Are you conducting neuroscience research or serving as captain of the debate team? Maybe you’re working a part-time job, or caring for younger siblings after school. However you spend your time, your activities section can highlight all of those different commitments.

How is the Common App activities list different from a resume?

Your activities list is similar to a resume in that it paints a picture of your past experiences. However, compared to a resume, the Common App activities section has more restrictive requirements.

Typically, a resume can be formatted however you want. However, the activities section of the Common App asks students to respond to specific prompts and adhere to specific character limits. We’ll go over these limitations (and tips for making each character count) later on. 

Moreover, resumes usually only include professional and academic activities, not caretaking responsibilities or certain personal projects. In contrast, the Common App has a wider scope by allowing for various different activities.

Why is the Common App activities section important?

Your academic history serves as the cornerstone of your application. While your GPA and teacher recommendations help colleges evaluate your academic abilities, they don’t tell the whole story. Colleges also want to see the fuller picture of who you are as a person.

Do you know one of the best ways for colleges to get to know who you are and what you care about? It’s understanding how you spend your time outside the classroom. The activities you choose to participate in can reveal a lot about your character and interests. Choosing the right ones to highlight helps admissions officers understand you and your goals, as well as how you contribute to your community.

How many activities can you list on the Common App?

Here’s an answer from former admissions officer Amber Bisnauth, along with some tips about activities you should be including on your list:

The activities section of the Common App allows students to disclose up to 10 activities with which they have engaged — either previously, currently, or both. You’ll notice that 9th grade is the earliest option you can select, and that’s with good reason! While students might have accomplished incredible things in middle school or earlier, colleges are primarily concerned with student engagement, interests and impact since beginning high school (or the equivalent, for international students).

The best extracurriculars for college are the ones that showcase your unique personality, interests, and talents. If you have more than 10 activities to choose from, prioritize the activities that:

• You’re passionate about
• Have shaped your values or helped you grow as a person
• Taught you a new skill
• Relate to your future major or career interests

Not every extracurricular you’ve participated in is going to be worth including on your list. For instance, say you attended a one-week summer coding camp before sophomore year. If it didn’t have a lasting impact on your interests or goals, it doesn’t need to be a Common App activity.

In general, we recommend getting the most out of all available space on your application. However, you are not required to fill all 10 slots if you do not have 10 meaningful activities to include. It’s more important to prioritize quality and impact over quantity when deciding which activities to put on your list.

Is there a Common App activities section character limit?

Like other Common App questions and essays, the Common App activities section has strict space limitations. Each entry on your activities list has to follow the same general restrictions:

On average, 150 characters translates to about 20-30 words. If having such little space to describe your Common App activities seems intimidating, don’t worry. In the following sections, you’ll find plenty of tips for maximizing your limited space.

What kind of activities should you include on the Common App?

You may think the best extracurriculars for college are the ones where you’ve won awards or served as president or captain. However, you don’t need any trophies or an official title for activities to be valuable to admissions officers. The key to choosing the right Common App activities? Focusing on meaningful commitments.

There are no limits to what kind of activities you can include in the Common App activities section. Admissions officers value commitment, leadership, initiative, and impact more than participation in a specific type of activity. When it comes to what to include, use your best judgment.

For example, let’s say you like watching TV in your free time. At first glance, that isn’t really an activity worth listing on your application. However, maybe you have a YouTube channel where you make reviews and breakdowns of popular shows. Not just that, you might have several thousand subscribers, and you want to go to school to study filmmaking. With that context, the simple act of watching TV suddenly becomes a worthwhile hobby. It all comes down to how the activity fits into your overall application narrative and your level of commitment.

How to Fill Out the Activities Section of Your Common App

Now, let’s go over the different sections of the Common App activities list. Here are the basic Common App questions you’ll need to answer for each of your activities:

Filling out the Common App Activities Section

Activity Type:

Choose which category your activity falls under (student government, cultural, family responsibilities, career-oriented, art, internship, etc.). If your activity could fit into multiple categories, choose the option that best matches it.

Position/Leadership Description (50 characters max):

If you hold an official title, like “Treasurer” or “Co-Captain,” put it here. For clubs where you didn’t hold a specific title, you can write “Member” or highlight a significant leadership role.

Organization Name (100 characters max):

Enter the name of the organization, team, employer, or program associated with the activity. For long names, abbreviations are fine when appropriate. For example, “International” can be written as “Int’l” and still be understood.

Please describe this activity, including what you accomplished and any recognition you received, etc. (150 characters max):

This is where you’ll explain the activity and highlight your impact. Focus on responsibilities, accomplishments, leadership, awards, or measurable results.

Participation Grade Levels:

Select the grades during which you participated in the activity.

Timing of Participation:

Indicate whether you participated during the school year, during a break, or year-round.

Hours Spent Per Week + Weeks Spent Per Year:

Estimate how many hours per week and weeks per year you spent on the activity. Your best estimate is fine, but avoid overstating your involvement.

I intend to participate in a similar activity in college:

Select “Yes” if you plan to continue this activity or pursue something similar in college. Even if you’re not 100% certain, it’s reasonable to select “Yes” for activities you genuinely hope to continue.

How to order activities on the Common App activities section

Besides deciding which activities to include in your activities list, you also need to decide how to order them. Here’s the general instruction from the Common App about how to order your activities list:

Please list your activities in the order of their importance to you.

When ranking your activities, place the most important and impactful experiences near the top of the list. Remember that admissions officers will typically pay the closest attention to your first few entries. Make sure those spots are reserved for the activities you are most proud of or have participated in the longest.

How to Describe Activities on the Common App

On your Common App activities list, you’ll need to write concise, achievement-focused descriptions. That means emphasizing the impact you had rather than simply listing responsibilities. Here’s how senior advisor Anna Vande Velde frames it:

The activities section descriptions are very different from application essays in that students don’t need to write in complete sentences and they should focus on action words and data. 

There is no need to describe the activity (AOs know what Model UN is, for example). Instead, students should use the space to describe their accomplishments and impact. Starting with a verb is generally a good idea. The more specific they can be (include amount of money fundraised or number of events attended, for example), the better.

Strong action verbs include words like “founded,” “organized,” and “managed,” as they immediately communicate your role and level of responsibility. For instance, as a member of your school’s robotics club, you might have:

• Mentored younger students
• Recruited new members
• Organized team workshops
• Led robot design process
• Coordinated competition logistics

Whenever possible, quantify your impact with specific details. Concrete numbers and outcomes help admissions officers quickly understand the scope of your involvement. For example, you might mention the number of tutored students, funds raised, events organized, articles published, or awards. Be sure to keep the focus on your contribution and achievements.

Before drafting your Common App activities section, create a list of commitments, accomplishments, leadership roles, and time investments. This will help you organize your extracurricular activities for your list.

Shaping your application narrative

In many cases, you may discuss some of your activities elsewhere in your application. For example, imagine one of your Common App essays focuses on a meaningful extracurricular experience. In that case, you don’t want to use your activities section to tell the exact same story again. Instead, use each part of your application to add something new. 

Use the activities section to highlight responsibilities, accomplishments, and outcomes. In your Common App essays, focus on personal impact. 

Let’s say you completed a summer research project studying the effects of microplastics on marine ecosystems, which inspired you to pursue environmental science. In your essay, you might describe the moment you discovered unexpectedly high concentrations of microplastics in local water samples. Your main message may be that the experience changed your perspective on environmental issues. In your activities section, you could focus on the scope of your work and accomplishments instead: “Conducted independent research on microplastic pollution; analyzed 150+ water samples and presented findings at regional science symposium (3rd place)”

Now you should have a general idea of how to approach your descriptions. Let’s move on to take a look at a few Common App activities section examples.

Common App Activities Section Examples

The best way to understand what makes a strong activity description is to see a few examples. Take a look at these three Common App activities section entries and what they do well.

This example stands out because it shows initiative at every stage. The student did not join an existing program. Rather, they identified a need in their community and built a solution from the ground up. By recruiting volunteers and obtaining funding, they demonstrated the ability to organize people and resources around a common goal. That dynamism is a stronger indicator of leadership than simply holding a title.

This description effectively highlights both academic engagement and tangible accomplishments. It uses strong action verbs and shows the student’s role in a meaningful research project. At the same time, the poster presentation demonstrates that the work produced a concrete outcome beyond simply participating in the program.

This example showcases sustained involvement, leadership progression, and measurable results. Listing multiple leadership positions demonstrates increasing responsibility over time, while the competition placements provide evidence of the team’s success and the student’s impact.

If, when looking at these Common App activities section examples, you feel like your activities aren’t as impressive, don’t panic. Remember, authenticity counts for far more than prestige. Admissions officers would rather see genuine commitment to a handful of meaningful activities than a long list that don’t reflect who you are.

How to Impress Admissions Officers With Your Activities List

Want your Common App activities section to leave an impression? Former admissions officer Amber Bisnauth explains how to make it happen.

Friendly Reminder: Once you have a complete draft of your Common App activities list, don’t forget to proofread it. Carefully review each of your entries for consistency, accuracy, and spelling errors before you hit submit!

Common App Activities Section – Final Thoughts

The Common App activities section can seem daunting, with only 150 characters per activity. However, those short descriptions can tell admissions officers a lot about who you are. Choosing the right activities, ordering them thoughtfully, and focusing on impact can help you make the most of the limited space available.

Oftentimes, the best extracurriculars for college applications are the ones you’ve consistently shown interest in over time. But that doesn’t mean newer activities aren’t worth including. If you started a meaningful club, research project, job, or volunteer position in junior spring, add it to your list. What matters most isn’t how long you’ve done something, but the role it played in your personal development.

Looking for more help tackling the Common App activities section? Have more Common App questions? Check out our Common App webinars, like Understanding the Common App: Tips and Tricks. Want more personalized admissions guidance? Reach out to learn how CollegeAdvisor’s team of former admissions officers and admissions experts can help you build a stronger application.

This article was written by Stefanie Tedards. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.