How the Common App Activities List Actually Gets Scored
Students often treat the activities list as an afterthought once the essay is finished. In reality, it's one of the fastest sections for an admissions reader to extract a clear signal from, which makes it worth just as much strategic attention.
What readers scan for first
In a matter of seconds, readers are scanning your common app activity list for leadership, initiative, and time commitment across the ten available slots. Order matters: the first two or three entries carry disproportionate attention, since that's where a skimming reader's eye lands first, so those should be the strongest, most specific evidence of depth — not chronological order, not alphabetical, not “save the best for last.”
Writing descriptions that actually land
Each entry's short description should lead with a concrete action or result, not a vague title. “Grew club membership from 12 to 45 and organized a citywide fundraiser” tells a reader far more in the same character count than “active member of student club.” The difference isn't length — both fit the 150-character limit — it's specificity.
Do's & Don'ts
DO | DON'T |
✓ Put the two or three strongest, most specific entries first, regardless of when they started chronologically. ✓ Lead every description with an action or a measurable result, not a title. ✓ Use the full character limit to pack in a concrete detail rather than a vague summary. ✓ Cut filler entries that don't add new information about the student's depth. | ✗ Don't order the activities list chronologically or alphabetically by default. ✗ Don't lead a description with a job title or club name instead of an action. ✗ Don't leave weak, low-commitment entries in the top three slots. ✗ Don't pad the list to fill all ten slots if there aren't ten real entries to include. |
The Hurwitz Take
The activities section rewards the same thing the essay does: specificity. That consistency is exactly why I ask students to build both at the same time, not one after the other.
Ready for a clear, honest read on where your student stands? Grab the free Activity Audit, or book a $250 / 55-minute College Readiness session with Dr. Nathan Hurwitz — no long-term package required. hurwitzadmissions.com | nathan@hurwitzadmissions.com | (203) 613-9262 |
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