Does Common App Order Affect Extracurricular Activities?

Sara Harberson provides a guide on how to effectively describe your extracurricular activities for the Common App and beyond. The activities section has a limit of ten activities, so it is essential to be selective in reporting your activities. Focusing on quality over quantity, start with the most notable activities first.

The order of activities on the Common App matters, as applicants must list their activities in order of importance. Be honest about what activities are and plan to complete the UC Activities List first, which is a more comprehensive list. Tailor the list from 20 to the 10 most important activities to complete the application.

The Activities List section of the Common App is where you provide information about your extracurricular and leadership (ECL) activities and achievements. The order in which you list your activities on the Common App activities list matters, and your impactful activities should go first. Three important rules:

1. Start with a bang, leaving an impression on the first activity.
2. List your activities in the order of importance to you. Model UN should be the most important, as admission officers may not read all your activities.
3. Start with the most notable activities first, then move into chronological order.
4. The order of the activities on your list is not as critical as the brief descriptions you provide for each one. The list should appear in descending order of importance, with activities that garnered national awards or recognition being the most important.

In summary, Sara Harberson’s system of assigning points to extracurricular activities is crucial for successful college applications. Prioritizing quality over quantity, starting with the most notable activities, and providing brief descriptions are essential for success.

How can I increase my chances of getting into a UC?

Students are advised to apply to multiple UC campuses to increase their chances of admission into the UC system. Although they may not get into their first choice, all UC campuses offer outstanding opportunities for learning and growth. Letters of recommendation should not be submitted unless specifically requested by a campus. Transcripts should be submitted after coursework has been completed and before July 1, unless requested by a campus.

Accurate information is crucial, and students must refer to transcripts to complete the academic history section of the application. The information on the self-report will be verified when admitted students’ official transcripts are received.

Does extracurricular order matter?

Order matters when listing activities on a CommonApp. If Model UN is the most important, keep it first. Colleges pay attention to the order and may structure the order to highlight a spike in public policy or IR. For example, Model UN might be placed above another activity that is more relevant to the student’s area of study. Be kind, helpful, and supportive in your responses. Welcome @Sarah616 to the community.

Can you have too many extracurriculars?

A study by researchers at the University of Georgia has found that excessive enrichment activities can lead to overscheduled students, causing increased stress and anxiety, especially at high school. The study suggests that students’ limited time is wasted on extracurricular activities, which can hinder the development of non-cognitive skills, such as relaxation, socializing, and sleep. Additionally, the academic outcomes bolstered by homework and enrichment activities are overhyped, with the “last hour” no longer contributing to the development of academic skills. The study suggests that students should focus on developing their non-cognitive skills instead.

Does the order of activities on the UC app matter?

The order of UC activities is crucial when creating an application-friendly activities list. Similar to the Common App activities list, the order should be based on the “why?” questions. Activities that are passion-driven and want to continue should be at the top, while those that are not clear should be at the bottom. Admissions officers want to hear about activities that are valuable and personally fulfilling. To create a stand-out activities list, focus on collecting and crafting salient information into information-loaded sentences, ensuring that the word count limits are considered.

How many extracurriculars should I have for UC?

To achieve a successful career, choose two to three areas of interest and commit to three to five extracurricular activities for three to four years. Developing leadership skills is crucial in these activities. Consider community service and volunteering, educational preparation programs, internships, summer programs, and other ideas like research programs and independent projects. Use vetted volunteer matching service providers to search for opportunities and sign up for email notifications when they become available. Most of these listings are national, covering various interest areas.

In what order should I list my activities?

The order in which you list your activities on the Common App activities list is crucial. The most impactful activities should be listed first, as admissions officers may have hundreds of applications to review. By ranking the most important activities first, they can better understand what they see and learn about you. Carefully considering the activities included in a college application and presenting them in the correct order ensures that they accurately represent your abilities, strengths, and passions.

Avoiding less impactful or less relevant activities can create a more compelling application that showcases your potential as a college student. To learn more about working with a college expert, schedule a free consultation today.

Do UC schools verify activities?

Applicants are advised to refrain from making any exaggerated or fabricated claims regarding their awards or activities, as all submitted information is subject to verification by the University of California (UC). This verification process also encompasses the accuracy of the information provided in the student reports included in the application.

Should you use all 20 activities on an UC application?

It is not advisable to list all 20 UC activities merely because of the available space. Rather, it is essential to ensure that the activities are meaningful and relevant to the child in question.

Does UCLA care about extracurriculars?

UCLA values course rigor, GPA, and essays the most, followed by extracurriculars, talent, personal character, and volunteer/work experience. Standardized test scores and demonstrated interest are not considered. The UCLA Common Data Set (CDS) is a valuable resource that helps shape an applicant’s application. UCLA admissions officers evaluate applicants based on factors like GPA, application essays, and extracurricular activities. They prioritize these factors over standardized test scores and demonstrated interest.

This multi-stage review demonstrates that UCLA values both good grades and personal character, demonstrating that while good grades are important, UCLA also values an applicant’s engagement with their community.

What order should I do my tasks?

Prioritizing the most essential tasks can mitigate stress and guarantee that less crucial tasks are addressed initially. In the event that the most important task requires a considerable investment of time and attention, it may be more efficacious to eliminate the less demanding tasks.

How to organize your activities list?

To write an effective activities list, prioritize your most impressive activities and organize them in a categorical order that aligns with the theme of your application. This will help you stand out to admissions officers by outlining your leadership roles, quantifiable achievements, and the duration of your involvement.

Leadership roles should be prioritized when organizing your activities list, as they help you stand out from the rest of the pack. Quantifying your achievements can be a quick and efficient way to demonstrate impact, such as the number of people who attended an event or membership growth since starting leading a group.

Sustained involvement is crucial when organizing your activities list. Consider the consistent amount of time or involvement demonstrated in each activity, using options like “Participation grade level”, “Hours spent per week”, and “Weeks spent per year”. Greater and longer involvement demonstrates dedication towards honing leadership skills and creating community in your club or organization, traits admissions officers seek in students.

Lastly, think about your application persona when organizing your activities list. Your application persona is the theme of your application, and if the majority of your activities don’t have a clear connection to each other, admissions officers might think you’re disorganized and not ambitious enough. Colleges appreciate students who are specialized leaders in one area rather than moderately committed to 10 different activities.

In summary, writing an effective activities list involves strategically listing your most impressive activities, quantifying your achievements, considering your application persona, and organizing your activities in a categorical order.