How to Write the Common App Activities Section: Tips + Examples

The Common App activities section shows colleges what you’ve done outside the classroom. You’ll list and describe your extracurriculars from high school, highlighting how you’ve spent your time and what matters most to you. This part of the application helps admissions officers see your commitments and contributions beyond grades and test scores.

However, filling it out can feel overwhelming with so many sections to complete. In this blog, we’ll explain how the Common App activities section works, share tips for writing it effectively, and show examples that can help you craft strong, memorable entries.

• What Is the Common App Activities Section?
• How to Fill Out the Activities Section of the Common App
• Tips on Writing the Common App Activities Section
• Common App Activities Section Examples
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Is the Common App Activities Section?

The Common App activities section is your chance to show colleges who you are beyond academics. While your grades and test scores measure performance in the classroom, this section highlights the commitments, passions, and impact that numbers can’t capture.

Competition has never been tougher. The Common Application reported a 4% increase in applicants compared to last year, while ACT data shows that the average high school GPA has climbed steadily from 2010 to 2021.

With more students earning high GPAs and strong test scores, admissions officers rely on the Common App activities section to see what sets you apart from equally qualified applicants. What you include can paint a clear picture of your values and priorities.

Maybe you’ve spent years focused on one pursuit, or maybe you’ve explored a wide range of interests. Either way, the way you present your activities helps colleges understand the contributions you might bring to their campus.

The Common App activities section lets you list up to ten activities, which can include jobs, hobbies, clubs, sports, or community engagement. Even personal responsibilities, like helping care for siblings or working part-time to support your family, are worth sharing. You don’t need to fill every slot, but you should focus on quality over quantity.

Each activity entry has strict character limits:

• Position/Leadership description: 50 characters
• Organization name: 100 characters
• Activity details, honors won, and accomplishments: 150 characters

In addition, you’ll provide specific details about your involvement:

• Activity type (e.g., art, athletics, community service, debate/speech, foreign language, research, social justice, work)
• Participation grade levels (9, 10, 11, 12, post-graduate)
• Timing of participation (during school year, school break, or year-round)
• Hours spent per week
• Weeks spent per year
• Whether you intend to participate in a similar activity in college (yes/no)

Because space is limited, choose words carefully and focus on what matters most. Later, we’ll share tips and examples to help you write an activities list that stands out.

How important are activities for admissions?

We already know that the activities section helps you show who you are beyond academics. But how much weight does it really carry in admissions decisions?

With more colleges going test-optional, extracurriculars now play a larger role in how applicants are evaluated.

A 2023 study by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) found that 44.4% of college admission officers rated extracurricular activities as “moderately to considerably important” in their decisions, especially at selective schools where most students already have strong academic records.

Admissions officers also pay attention to the quality of your activities. They often prefer to see depth and consistency in a few areas rather than a long list with no clear focus. One or two standout commitments paired with consistent involvement in other areas usually make a stronger impression than ten scattered activities.

While extracurriculars may feel subjective, colleges evaluate them using clear criteria. One common framework is the four tiers of extracurricular activities:

• Tier 1. Rare achievements that demonstrate exceptional distinction, such as competing in the USA Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO) or winning a Regeneron ISEF Award.
• Tier 2. High-level leadership or state-level recognition, such as participating in Model United Nations (MUN) or making an all-state team in football.
• Tier 3. Moderate involvement that still shows commitment, such as a leadership role in the history club or small-scale volunteer work like tutoring a younger student.
• Tier 4. The most common activities, such as general membership in the debate team, playing in the marching band, or running track.

Knowing where your activities fall in this hierarchy can help you decide which to highlight and how to frame them effectively in your Common App activities section.

How to Fill Out the Activities Section of the Common App

Now that you know why the activities section is important, the next step is learning how to complete it. There’s limited space to describe up to ten activities, so you’ll need to be strategic about what you include and how you present it.

1. Choose the ten activities you plan to include.

Be selective when deciding which activities to list. Trust me, you don’t need to fill all ten slots—focus instead on the experiences that best reflect who you are. Start brainstorming by asking yourself:

• How do I currently spend my time?
• How have I spent my time over the past four years?
• Which activities communicate something meaningful about my interests, accomplishments, or character?

Your list could include clubs, community service, paid jobs, summer programs, athletics, hobbies, or artistic pursuits. The most compelling activities are the ones you’ve done consistently and over a longer period. For example, volunteering every week at a food pantry shows commitment, while a one-time 45-minute event likely isn’t worth including.

Once you’ve identified potential activities, add details to help you evaluate them. Note which grades you participated in (9–12), estimate how many hours you spent weekly and how many weeks per year, and record any leadership roles or awards. Even though they’re listed separately in the Common App awards section, tracking awards here will help you see which activities stand out the most and deserve a spot in your ten activities list.

2. Group and order your activities.

How you order your activities on the Common App is important. Admissions officers see the first few entries first, so you want your strongest commitments at the top. That usually means putting the activities that best show your passion, leadership, or impact before everything else.

Some students list their activities in strict chronological order, but that rarely works in your favor. Instead, prioritize personal impact and meaning. What taught you the most? What reflects your character? Those activities should go first, even if they required fewer hours than others.

For example, you spent 14 hours a week training for tennis but only two hours running a clinic you founded for young players. The clinic likely shows more leadership and initiative, so it deserves a higher spot on your list. Or, a small project like organizing a tennis racket drive could perhaps rank above longer commitments if it had a bigger impact or felt more meaningful.

The goal is simple: arrange your activities so admissions officers immediately see what matters most about you.

3. Complete the Common App activities section fields.

Each activity you list comes with nine required fields. Since the space is limited, you’ll need to be strategic and make every word count. Here’s what each field asks for and how you can approach it:

Activity type

When you enter an activity, the Common App asks you to choose a category from a drop-down list:

• Academic
• Art
• Athletics: Club
• Athletics: JV/Varsity
• Career-Oriented
• Community Service (Volunteer)
• Computer/Technology
• Cultural
• Dance
• Debate/Speech
• Environmental
• Family Responsibilities
• Foreign Exchange
• Journalism/Publication
• Junior R.O.T.C.
• LGBT
• Music: Instrumental
• Music: Vocal
• Religious
• Research
• Robotics
• School Spirit
• Science/Math
• Student Government/Politics
• Theater/Drama
• Work (paid)
• Other Club/Activity

Select the most specific and relevant option. For example, Math Club should go under “Science/Math” rather than the more general “Academic.”

Position/Leadership description (50 characters)

This field allows only 50 characters, so choose words that describe your role as directly as possible, such as “President” or “Event Coordinator.” Avoid vague labels like “Member” when you can specify a responsibility, such as “Treasurer,” “Volunteer Tutor,” or “Varsity Goalie.”

Organization name (100 characters)

List the official name of the club, team, employer, or group connected to your activity. If the organization is not well known, add brief context. Always use the full name rather than an acronym, since admissions officers may not recognize every abbreviation.

For example, “Lincoln High School Debate Team” or “Environmental Club” don’t need extra detail, but something less obvious like “Bright Futures” should include context: “Bright Futures (local nonprofit, after-school tutoring program).”

Activity description (150 characters)

Highlight your personal contributions and impact. Use present tense if you’re still involved and past tense if your participation has ended. Focus on specifics, like what you did, how you contributed, and what you accomplished.

Instead of a vague statement like “Helped organize events for student government,” write something more concrete such as, “Planned school-wide mental health week, partnered with counselors, and coordinated three fundraising events.”

Participation grade levels

Indicate the grade levels during which you participated. For summer experiences, choose the grade level that came before the summer. For example:

• A summer course between freshman and sophomore year should be marked as 9th.
• An internship between sophomore and junior year should be marked as 10th.
• A research program between junior and senior year should be marked as 11th.

Timing of participation

Select when you were active. If your involvement covered both the school year and breaks, select “During school year” and “During school break.” If the activity continues throughout the school year, breaks, and summer, select “All year.”

Hours spent per week

Estimate the average number of hours you spend on each activity every week. Admissions officers know this is an estimate, so give a fair average rather than the busiest weeks.

Weeks spent per year

Enter the number of weeks you participated in the activity. For seasonal activities, use practice, rehearsal, or game schedules to estimate.

College participation

Finally, indicate whether you plan to continue the activity in college. In most cases, the answer should be yes, unless the activity is specific to high school like “Homecoming Committee” or “Prom Planning.”

Marking “yes” reinforces the idea that your involvement is not temporary but an ongoing interest you’ll bring with you to campus.

4. Proofread, proofread, proofread!

Even strong applicants sometimes overlook the basics of good writing in the Common App. Grammar mistakes, vague wording, or weak phrasing can take away from the impact of your accomplishments.

First, make sure your verb tense matches your involvement. Use present tense if you are still active and past tense if your participation has ended. This small detail signals accuracy and polish.

Next, focus on concise, professional phrasing. For example, “Prepare menu items, interact with customers, and resolve order issues” is much stronger than “I make burgers and deal with customers.”

Finally, proofread carefully. Because the activities section uses short fragments rather than full sentences, typos and awkward wording are easy to miss. Reading through your entries multiple times ensures admissions officers notice your achievements at their best.

Tips on Writing the Common App Activities Section

Filling out the activities list isn’t just about naming what you did. With limited character counts, your goal is to show impact, leadership, and growth in a concise way. These tips will help you write sharper, clearer descriptions that stand out.

1. Use phrases, not sentences.

The Common App gives you only 150 characters to describe each activity. That’s not enough space for full sentences. Instead, write in short, direct phrases that get straight to the point.

For example, instead of “I was responsible for organizing meetings for the debate club every week,” write “Organized weekly debate meetings; coordinated 15 members.” It communicates the same information more efficiently.

This style also makes your descriptions easier to scan. Admissions officers read thousands of applications, and clear phrases let them see your contributions quickly. If drafting in full sentences feels easier, start that way and then trim down while keeping the key details.

2. Start with strong verbs.

Begin each phrase with an action verb. Words like “led,” “organized,” “designed,” or “founded” emphasize initiative and leadership. Avoid weaker verbs like “helped” or “participated in,” which don’t highlight your role.

Think of this section like a resume: admissions officers want to know what you did and how you contributed. For instance, instead of “Worked on school newsletter,” write “Edited and published 12 issues of school newsletter.” Instead of “Helped at food drive,” try “Collected and distributed 500+ meals at local food drive.”

Even smaller roles can sound impactful when you choose verbs that show responsibility.

3. Add quantitative details.

Numbers make your accomplishments specific and measurable. They help admissions officers see the scope of your work and the results you achieved.

For example, instead of writing “Tutored students,” you could write “Tutored 15 middle schoolers in math, improving grades by 20%.”

Similarly, “Raised $2,000 for cancer research through charity run” shows concrete impact, not just participation. So whenever possible, connect your numbers to outcomes, like how many people you helped, what improved, or what you achieved. This way, your activities stand out.

4. Avoid repetition.

With only ten slots, each activity should highlight something unique. If you list Math Club and Science Olympiad, don’t repeat “Attended weekly meetings.” Instead, vary your focus.

In Math Club, you might emphasize leadership: “Led weekly problem-solving sessions for 20 peers.” In the Science Olympiad, emphasize results: “Won 2nd place in state chemistry lab event.”

Think of your activities as showing different sides of you—leadership, teamwork, creativity, persistence—rather than repeating the same role in different settings.

Common App Activities Section Examples

Here’s an example of how a student might format, describe, and order their activities:

Research Intern
Stanford Human-Computer Interaction Lab
Developed virtual prototypes for user testing; project presented at regional tech showcase.

Founder and President
Girls Who Code – Westside Chapter
Launched weekend workshops teaching coding to middle school girls; reached 60+ participants.

President
STEM Club
Designed science fair projects and led team that created an app for tracking student assignments.

Assistant Instructor
Karate Academy
Coached children ages 6–8 on fundamentals; emphasized confidence and discipline.

Karate
Achieved black belt at 15; competed in regional tournaments.

Writing Mentor
Roosevelt High School
Advised peers on essays and AP English prep; edited articles for school literary magazine.

Math Tutor
Roosevelt High School
Tutored classmates in Algebra, Geometry, and Calculus; improved average test scores by 15%.

President
Faith and Fellowship Club
Coordinated monthly gatherings with guest speakers; engaged 70+ students in service projects.

Cashier
Greenway Grocery
Assisted customers, processed payments, and restocked items during evening shifts.

Server
Sunset Café
Took orders, delivered food, and handled transactions in fast-paced environment.

Why this example works

In this example, the strongest activities are placed first, so leadership, impact, and community involvement all stand out. Admissions officers scan quickly, so listing the most meaningful roles at the top helps create an immediate impression.

The descriptions use resume-style phrasing, which means they’re short, specific fragments that emphasize action and outcomes. This style communicates achievement efficiently within the character limits.

Finally, related activities are grouped together (like STEM initiatives, tutoring, and mentorship), giving admissions officers a clear sense of the student’s interests and how those experiences could translate into contributions on campus.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Common App activities section character limit?

The Common App activities section character limit gives you 150 characters to describe each activity. You’ll also have 50 characters for the position/leadership field and 100 characters for the organization name.

2. How many activities should I put in the Common App activities section?

You can list up to ten activities, but you don’t need to fill every slot. Focus on quality over quantity by highlighting the most meaningful extracurriculars. Admissions officers care more about the impact rather than the number of your activities.

3. What should I not include in the Common App activities section?

You should avoid listing extracurricular activities from middle school since colleges only want to see what you’ve done in grades 9–12. Skip activities you only did once, as they don’t show real commitment. Also leave out extracurricular activities you aren’t passionate about, because your list should only reflect what truly matters to you.

Takeaways

• The Common App activities section is one of the most important parts of your application, showing impact beyond GPA and test scores.
• You can list up to ten activities, including jobs, hobbies, clubs, sports, or community engagement. You can also include personal responsibilities worth sharing.
• There are nine required fields per activity, including activity type, grade levels, timing, hours, weeks, position, organization, description, and college participation.
• Need help narrowing down your activities list? Work with a college admissions expert to refine your list, highlight your strengths, and present a clear story that stands out to admissions officers.