The Common App activities section is a great opportunity to demonstrate your skills, along with specific examples of extracurricular activities you have participated in over the last few years. The Common Application has undergone some changes in terms of online design and format recently (effective from Aug 1, 2025). However, the structure of the Activities List on the Common App remains the same.

In the Activity List section, there are still 10 slots provided, along with various dropdown categories and specified character limits.  The entry fields for each activity also remain unchanged.

With only ten slots and strict character limits, strategy is key. The obvious challenge is to condense all your experiences into a short list that can still grab the attention of admissions officers.

How important is the Activities List Section?

The Common App activities section is where you can highlight your skills, talents, and specific examples of extracurricular activities that you have participated in in the past few years at Common App universities. Under the Activities category, you get to talk about the scope of your extracurricular activities as well as applicable experiences that made you an amazing candidate for your chosen universities.

Selective colleges use grades and test scores to filter out applicants, but once you get past that initial stage, extracurriculars make up about 30% of your admissions decision. This shows that they are almost as important as scholars! Colleges use extracurricular activities to assist them in differentiating and selecting candidates because most of them share the same level of academic preparation.

The activities list on the Common Application is only 150 characters. How do you plan to make the most of them? You have to make the best of them. Inomi’s Counsellors can also help you write the activities section of your application in a manner that will impress the admissions committee and secure your admission.

How do Indian Students Usually Underestimate This Section?

Indian students and parents usually think of the Common App Activities List as some kind of cursory checklist to fill out towards the end of the application. But in fact, this section has enormous significance. Admissions officers usually refer here to gauge your personality, initiative, and real-world contribution — things that your grades and test scores can’t reveal.

Unfortunately, many Indian applicants either undersell themselves or don’t realize that everyday experiences like helping in a family business, tutoring juniors, managing school events, or running a small project online all count. The Activities List is not just about big titles or international achievements — it’s about showing how you’ve made the most of your time, in your own context, with the opportunities available to you.

Which is why it’s essential to know how to clearly and effectively convey your experiences strategically on the Common App Activities List. Let’s get a closer look at what this section really contains — and how you can make it shine.

What Is the Common App Activities List?

The Activities List is where you demonstrate to colleges that you are more than your grades. It’s your opportunity to showcase all that you have been doing outside the classroom — however, that may look for you, be it playing cricket for your school, working for an NGO, doing an internship with a startup, assisting your family business, or managing a small baking page on Instagram.

• For every activity, the Common App requests some brief details:
• Activity Type: Select a category (such as Sports, Community Service, Research, etc.)
• Position/Leadership Description: Brief title (up to 50 characters)
• Organization Name: Where you performed the activity (up to 100 characters)
• Activity Description: What you did and what you accomplished (up to 150 characters — yes, that’s small)
• Participation Grades: Select 9, 10, 11, 12, or post-graduation
• When You Did It: School year, school break, or throughout the entire year
• Time Spent: Weeks per year and hours per week
• Future Interest: Whether you anticipate pursuing this activity in college
• Writing the Position or Leadership Description: This is a brief section — only 50 characters — but it lays the groundwork for everything else that comes after. So be concise and precise. Don’t simply type “Member.” Instead, tell us what you actually did or led.

Examples of Activities for the Common App

• Editor-in-Chief, School Magazine
• Founder, Mental Health Awareness Club
• Volunteer Teacher, Local NGO
• Creator, Economics Podcast
• If you did not have a title, invent one that describes your job. For example, if you managed money for the school fest, you may put “Budget Coordinator, School Fest.”

Describing Impactful Activities

This is the most crucial section of your Activities List — and the toughest. You have only 150 characters to highlight your impact, leadership, and narrative. Imagine writing your personal brand in a sentence.

Step 1: Brainstorm Before You Write

Don’t type away immediately! First, write down every detail you did for that activity:

• What did you actually do?
• What was the problem you solved or goal you met?
• What qualities or abilities did you develop?
• Any awards, outcomes, or results?
• What did you learn — and how did you implement it?

This exercise helps you think about what admissions officers care most about: learning, leadership, and impact.

Step 2: Condense and Polish

Now, distill your main points into a single strong line.

Tips:

• Utilize action verbs such as Led, Organized, Initiated, Created, Managed, and Designed.
• Be precise and quantifiable. Numbers get noticed — say how many you led, taught, reached, or served.
• Omit words that are not needed. Short forms are okay — admissions officers know you have a limit!
• Address what changed as a result of your actions.

Example (Before):

Volunteered at the neighborhood food bank each Saturday.

Example (After):

Directed 10-person team to deliver food to 200+ families per week; boosted donations 30%.

The second one demonstrates leadership, scale, and measurable outcomes — all in one place.

Choosing Grade Levels and Times

This section is easy but critical.

Check off the grades (9–12) you were involved in.

If you did something over the summer between Grades 10 and 11, choose “Grade 11.”

Under “Timing,” choose school year, school break, or all year.

Estimating Hours and Weeks

Be realistic and honest here. You don’t have to break everything down to the minute — an estimate is enough. Colleges aren’t reviewing your arithmetic; they just want to know how you manage your time.

For instance, if you devoted 5 hours a week to tutoring juniors for 20 weeks, put it that way. If your figures look overly exaggerated (such as 20 hours a week participating in six different activities!), you might raise some suspicions.

How to Tackle “Do You Plan to Engage in a Similar Activity at College?”

This question assists colleges in imagining the type of student you will become on campus. There’s no “right” response — just be honest.

If you enjoy it — whatever it is, robotics, theater, writing, or athletics — say yes. It sends colleges the message that your interests are real. If you feel as though you’ve grown out of an activity, say no. This isn’t a lifelong commitment; it’s merely a sign of interest.

What to Put on Your Activities List

Pretty much anything you’ve done outside of academics counts — especially if it shows initiative, leadership, or curiosity. This could include:

• School clubs and leadership roles
• Sports teams or competitions
• Volunteering, community service, or social projects
• Internships, part-time work, or family business involvement
• Online courses, independent projects, or research
• Personal creative pursuits — podcasts, blogs, YouTube channels, art portfolios

What do Admission Officers Like to See on the Activities List?

Admissions officers love to see:

• Intellectual curiosity — like research or subject-related clubs
• Leadership and impact — through roles or tangible results
• Initiative — starting something new or improving what already exists
• Ambition — pursuing your goals with focus and consistency

How do Admissions Officers Look at Activities on the Common App?

After reviewing years of successful Inomi student applications and speaking with university admissions officers, we’ve noticed a clear pattern: they’re looking for four core qualities in your Activities List —

1. Leadership

Did you lead or lead others? Leadership is more than a title. It may have been founding a coding club, mentoring your juniors, or leading a school drive.

2. Impact

How did you make an impact? Measure your outcomes — people assisted, dollars raised, events organized, or ideas executed.

3. Initiative

Did you initiate something new or eliminate a problem nobody else touched? Admissions officers adore initiative-taking students who take charge.

4. Ambition

Are you striving towards something bigger? Have you demonstrated growth, consistency, and hard work over time? Whether publishing research, competing at a national level, or starting a startup, ambition demonstrates drive.

Tips for Creating Your Common App Activities List

1. Begin with the most significant activities — not necessarily chronological

Your most significant activities will be listed at the top. Those are typically the ones in which you’ve demonstrated leadership, initiative, or continuity of commitment. For instance, being Head Boy/Head Girl, Club President, or Team Captain — list those first!

Keep in mind: the order does not necessarily have to be chronological. Admissions officers will first see what’s first, so put your most impressive activities at the top.

2. Max out all 10 spots — and make every word count

Try to fill all 10 activity spaces, even if a few are smaller commitments. The only exception is if one activity takes up most of your time — for example, if you’re a national-level sportsperson or trained classical musician preparing for competitions year-round.

Be concise and avoid repetition. Instead of repeating the same words or organization names, focus on your impact and specific contributions.

The second option provides more detail and demonstrates quantifiable impact — all in short characters!

3. Be honest and consistent when reporting hours, weeks, and years

Admissions officers do look at how much time you’ve devoted to each activity. Be realistic — don’t claim 20 hours per week for 10 different activities! They also value growth and consistency, so highlight where your commitment has increased over the years.

For instance, if you began coding as a hobby in Grade 9, joined a robotics club in Grade 10, and developed an app by Grade 12 — that is a clear trajectory of improvement and drive.

4. Mention family commitments or half-time responsibilities

Not all students get to have dozens of clubs or summer camps — and that’s perfectly fine! If you’ve cared for younger siblings, assisted in a family business, tutored, or volunteered in your community — these count!

Admissions officers realize that these kinds of commitments hone skills such as responsibility, empathy, and time management. Be sure to mention them along with a brief description of what you learned or accomplished.

5. Ensure your list is you — your interests, values, and goals

Before submission, review your Activities List and ask yourself:

• Does this accurately reflect who I am and what I am passionate about?
• Does it reflect my interests and strengths — academic, personal, or creative?
• If I’m interested in a specific major (e.g., Computer Science or Psychology), does my list show that interest?
• Would my teachers or school counselor say that this list does me justice?

If something doesn’t feel quite right or doesn’t fit your overall narrative, reconsider whether it should be there. Your Activities List should illustrate a clear narrative of your high school journey — not merely a series of disconnected experiences.

Final Thoughts on the Activities List for the Common Application

Imagine your Activities List as a mini-narrative of your high school experience — a snapshot of how you’ve occupied your time, what matters to you, and in what ways you’ve made a difference. You don’t have to have tried everything out there. Most important is authenticity, reflection, and intention.

References: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Tanmoy Ray

Tanmoy Ray is an experienced admissions consultant and content marketer with a passion for helping students achieve their global education dreams. After completing his Master’s degree in the UK, he worked with leading universities including the University of Oxford (UK), Utrecht University (Netherlands), and the University of New South Wales (Australia). Tanmoy combines his deep expertise in higher education with a talent for crafting student-focused resources that simplify complex admissions processes.