Introduction
In competitive college admissions, your activities list (sometimes called the extracurricular or activities section) can tip the scales between acceptance and denial. Admissions readers often skim this section in just two minutes, seeking evidence of impact, leadership and sustained commitment. Merely listing clubs won’t cut it; you need to tell a story about who you are and what you value.
Why Activities Matter
Admissions committees look at magnitude and impact, not just participation. They want to see that you’ve made a difference in your community or pursued your interests deeply. An activities list helps them answer questions like:
- Does the student demonstrate leadership and initiative?
- Are their activities aligned with their intended major or academic interests?
- Has the student shown growth and progression over time?
- Do they contribute to the school community in unique ways?
At East Coast Scholars we’ve seen clients admitted to top colleges because their activities told a cohesive story. One student who loved environmental science founded a community garden that donated produce to a local food pantry. Her leadership role, impact statistics and alignment with her intended major impressed admissions officers more than a longer list of unrelated clubs.
Choosing Activities Strategically
Quality trumps quantity. Focus on activities that showcase leadership, impact and sustained commitment:
- Align with your academic interests. If you plan to study engineering, join robotics teams, coding clubs or research internships. Aspiring pre‑meds might volunteer at hospitals or conduct biology research.
- Seek leadership roles. Running for club president or organizing events demonstrates initiative. Leadership doesn’t always mean a title; spearheading a project or mentoring younger students counts too.
- Demonstrate impact. Quantify your contributions—hours volunteered, funds raised, number of people served. Admissions officers love concrete evidence.
- Show progression. Colleges like to see growth over time. Perhaps you started as a club member sophomore year and became president senior year. Explain this trajectory in your descriptions.
- Pursue depth over breadth. It’s better to devote significant time to a few meaningful activities than to spread yourself thin across many.
Writing Effective Descriptions
Most application platforms limit the length of each activities description, so every word counts. Use strong verbs and highlight results:
- Start with a verb (e.g., “Led a team of 10 students…” rather than “Team captain”).
- Quantify results (e.g., “…raised $5,000 for local shelters and increased membership by 40%.”).
- Highlight impact (e.g., “…tutored 30 peers, improving average grades by a full letter.”).
- Connect to bigger goals (e.g., “…designed accessible learning materials for students with dyslexia.”).
For example, instead of writing “Volunteer at hospital,” an East Coast Scholars student revised his entry to: “Coordinated 50+ volunteers at St. Mary’s Hospital, expanding the weekend tutoring program for pediatric patients and reducing staff workload by 15%.” This revised description showcased leadership, scale and impact.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid these pitfalls:
- Listing without context – Simply naming clubs doesn’t tell admissions officers what you did or learned.
- Exaggerating – Stick to facts. Overstating your role can backfire during interviews or recommendation letters.
- Ignoring non‑school activities – Jobs, family responsibilities and independent projects count. If you care for siblings or work part‑time, include that; it shows responsibility and time management.
- Repeating the same activity across multiple entries. Combine related roles under one entry or highlight different aspects within the description.
A standout activities list showcases who you are beyond grades and test scores. By choosing activities strategically, quantifying impact and telling a cohesive story, you’ll capture the attention of admissions readers. Need help polishing your activities descriptions? East Coast Scholars’ admissions coaches will guide you through brainstorming, drafting and refining your list. Book a free consultation at eastcoastscholars.com/contact.
