✨ How to Nail the “Activities” Section in the Common App — tips from a former admissions officer

Are you pouring tons of energy into your essay and overlooking one of the most important parts of the application? Elise Krantz, a former admissions officer at Barnard College, notes that Activities is the section most often neglected—yet it can truly set you apart. Here are her best tips to fix that:

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⁉️How to grab attention with Activities:

1. Every character counts!
You get only 150 characters—use them to show impact, not just participation.

2. Lead with your strongest entries
Put your most significant activities first—if a reader skims, they’ll see your best work immediately.

3. Show progression
Spell out your growth: “Treasurer (11th), President (12th)”—this highlights increasing responsibility.

4. Vary your verbs and keep it lively
Start each line differently—“led, designed, researched…” Variety adds energy.

5. Add context—make it relatable
Say how much you raised, who you worked with, or why it mattered. Specifics sell.

6. Originality is in the details
Instead of “played soccer,” note what you value: “teamwork, sportsmanship, mutual support”—let your personality show.

7. Don’t skip the non‑obvious
Home tutoring, volunteering, even hobbies count—if they tell your story.

8. Don’t mark everything as “will continue in college”
Only check it when true; overusing it looks inauthentic.

9. Quality over quantity
Five strong entries beat ten filler items. Depth wins.

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Each activity is a chance to tell your story, not just list a title. Craft every line carefully, show who you are, and aim to create a vivid snapshot on your application page.
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