6 Dos And Don'ts To Keep In Mind While Curating Your Activity List

Activity Lists are descriptions of students’ extracurricular activities and awards, which gives universities important insights into a student’s profile, personality, and interests. Most importantly, it is one of the key metrics (especially for US universities) based on which universities evaluate student applications. It hence becomes very important for students to invest time in curating their Activity Lists. A list once created should be reviewed and edited multiple times until one is sure that it projects them in the best possible light in front of admissions committees.

Lastly, different universities have different Activity Lists requirements (Common App allows students to add 10 activities, whereas the UC Portal allows students to enter 20). It is hence beneficial for students to have ‘Stock Descriptions’ that can be modified for each portal.

Things To Keep In Mind

Let us deep-dive into a few points that students should keep in mind while curating their Activity Lists.

Make It Substantial

Most activity lists only provide limited space for students to describe each activity. The Common App- a portal through which students can apply to a majority of US Universities, only allows 150-character descriptions. This implies that students have to fit complex and vast activities into descriptions that do not exceed 30 words. It is hence important to load descriptions with substance and key factual information. The impact and extent of activities far outweigh vocabulary and eloquent descriptions (these aspects are tested more in admissions essays).

For example – “Partnered with UNICEF to organise 25 sessions, reaching 200 at-risk students” is a better description than “Conducted comprehensive and impact-oriented sessions for underprivileged students in association with UNICEF’'. Students do not even need to focus on aspects such as sentence formation- phrases often work better to provide detailed insights given a limit on characters.

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Keep It Program-Oriented

Students are required to choose intended majors and schools within universities at the time of applications. The Activity List should not just ensure that the student is a good fit for the university, but explain why a student is a good fit for a specific program or a specific school.

For example – the Activity List of a student applying to engineering programs must be dominated by STEM-centric practical activities and research projects, which demonstrate proficiency and interest in the intended major. It is hence extremely critical to prioritise activities as per one’s course selection, irrespective of how personally significant they might be.

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Diversity Is Key

Whilst it is important for the list to focus on the intended major, students should strive to make the list as diverse as possible. Going with the previous example, it is important for engineering aspirants to add activities that do not pertain to STEM. Good examples of these could be social work and initiatives, proficiency in fine and performing arts, entrepreneurial efforts, and sports. This allows universities to get a holistic understanding of a student's profile. Moreover, universities tend to prefer uniqueness in the sea of general excellence.

Students should start drafting their activities lists at least two months prior to admissions’ deadlines, given how many rounds of screening they warrant.

Keep It Authentic

It is imperative that one’s Activity List gives an authentic picture of them. Whilst this is important from an ethical perspective, preparing authentic lists has a tangible benefit as well- it allows universities to evaluate students as not profiles but as individuals. Struggles, failures, achievements, and learnings- all that makes a student what they are should find their way into the Activity List.

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Do Not Repeat

Students often feel the urge to over-represent certain activities that they think are crucial to their profiles. For example- one might include a fundraiser and informative sessions as separate entries even if they are done through a common social project. This occupies space in the Activity List without adding significant value to the profile. Moreover, universities often allow students to explain the activities most important to them through admissions essays (where students can go into far more detail about each activity). Students should keep their lists diverse and incorporate a range of activities that define their profiles and personalities.

Congruence Is A Must

Activities Lists are one of the many metrics through which student profiles are assessed. These metrics include admissions essays, letters of recommendation, the CV etc. It is prudent to ensure that information reflected in these different pieces is linear and complimentary. Any contradictions amongst these outputs can be highly detrimental to acceptance.

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Curation of the Activity Lists is a process that requires a high level of diligence, especially because some other documentation (such as letters of recommendation) that they might be compared to are not directly in the hands of students. Students should start drafting their activities lists at least two months prior to admissions’ deadlines, given how many rounds of screening they warrant. Researching successful applications and reaching out to experts and admitted students could be extremely helpful for students in ensuring that they derive maximum value from their college lists.

Vijeeth Srinivas is a development consultant with more than extensive experience in the foreign education industry. With the Centre for Career Development and Essai Education he has helped hundreds of students secure positions in leading universities abroad. He is keen to make novel developments in education and skill development more accessible to students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.