4 years of one activity is better than 1 year of four activities. Summer Counts: Don't waste summers. Use them for pre-college programs or deep-dive projects. Show, Don't Tell:
This isn't about grades; it's about intellectual vitality.
Can you lead this club? Can you start a new project? extracurricular activities richard guide
Space is limited (e.g., 150 characters for the description on the Common App). Avoid repeating the club name in the description. Cut out filler words and get straight to the action. Use Strong Action Verbs
Secretary of a club, multiple years in band/orchestra, consistent volunteer work. General Interest 4 years of one activity is better than
Do not. Admissions officers call advisors. I have seen acceptances rescinded. Honest small impact wins over fabricated large impact every time.
: The way you describe your activities is crucial. Don't just list your responsibilities; articulate the impact you made and the skills you developed. For example, instead of writing "member of the debate team," you could write "co-captain of debate team; led team to regional championships; mentored 5 new members." Show, Don't Tell: This isn't about grades; it's
💡 : Admissions officers prefer seeing a leadership role in one club over minor participation in five. Integrating Academics and Activities
