I’m like, “Oh, now I get what debate looks like to you.” But wait, what makes a verb stronger?Įxample: “taught” is fine, but did you coach, mentor, train, or demystify?Ī stronger verb … often provides more information.Įxample: “organize” is fine, but did you arrange, catalog, compile, or systematize?Ī few examples I like: mediate, publicize, administer, or plagiarize (I’m kidding about plagiarize, please don’t). I lead research and case writing, mentor younger debate students, organize mock debates, host an annual debate tournament. Here’s a much clearer, more interesting, and more varied description: How do I know? I’ve seen hundreds of Activities Lists and most need stronger verbs.Ĭompare this typical description of debate:ĭebated topics, attended tournaments, researched topics.īTW I am so much nicer and less sarcastic in real life-just employing it here to make a point. Are you communicating what you learned or how an activity changed you? If not, you may be leaving money on the table. Have you included a wide range of responsibilities? Most students forget to include solving problems, gaining skills, and making tangible (and even quantifiable!) impact.ĭemonstrate skills & values. ![]() Why? Because they’re using just-okay verbs.ĭevelop better (and perhaps a bit more) content. I’ll define “stronger” in a moment, but in short: Are you describing your activity in the most dynamic way possible? Most students aren’t. But it doesn’t take long to up-level an activities list from pretty good to great. Most students write a pretty good activities list description and then they stop there. Organized and ran meetings, set up field trips, brainstormed and created group art activities, wrote and sent newsletter to members. Your activities list can make a big difference in your application. Why should you spend 30 minutes up-leveling it? “There are only so many hours in the day so seeing how a student has involved themselves outside the academic arena is a great way of understanding their potential fit for a university campus.” What’s its purpose? “Extracurricular activities can be a great opportunity to see how an applicant has self-directed their passions and interests,” says Jorge Delgado, Associate Director of International Admissions at Brandeis. ![]() What’s the activities list again? It’s the space on the application where you name and briefly describe your non-academic pursuits. ![]() Why you should never stretch the truth on your activities list How values can help you bring much more variety to your activities list How to develop more and better content for your activities list Why it’s worth spending half an hour up-leveling your activities list How do you make the most of them? Here are some tips with accompanying college activities list examples.Īpplying through the Coalition Application, ApplyTexas, UC Application, or another application system? These tips still apply. You only get 150 characters on the activities list for the Common Application.
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