Ranking Your Activities on the Common App

The Activities section is one of the most important parts of the Common App. It tells colleges how you spend your time outside the classroom and helps admissions officers understand what matters most to you. 

The biggest mistake students make is ranking activities based on what they think colleges want to see instead of what has had the greatest impact on their own lives. Your activities should tell your story, not the story you think admissions officers expect. 

Your activities will come from your resume, usually the extracurricular, work, major related, volunteering, and sports sections. There is room for up to 10 activities.  Don't panic if you do not have 10 activities to list--showing meaningful engagement matters much more than the total number of activities listed. 

Step 1: Rank Your Activities

Rank your activities using a combination of these factors: 

• Time commitment (hours per week and weeks per year) 

• Leadership and responsibility 

• Impact on others 

• Personal growth and significance 

• Achievement or recognition 

• Connection to your future goals or intended major 

Ask Yourself

As you decide the order, ask these questions: 

• Which activity would I be most disappointed to remove from my application? 

• Where did I spend the most meaningful time? 

• Which activity best demonstrates who I am? 

• Which activity shows leadership, initiative, or achievement? 

• Which activity would my teachers immediately associate with me? 

If an admissions officer only read your first three activities, would they understand: 

• What you care about? 

• How you spend your time? 

• What responsibilities you've taken on? 

If the answer is yes, your ranking is probably on the right track. 

A Typical Ranking Strategy

Activities #1–3: Core Identity Activities

These activities define who you are. 

Examples include: 

• Activity related to your intended major 

• Varsity team captain 

• Research project 

• Founder of a club or nonprofit 

• Competitive dance or music 

• Long-term job with increasing responsibility 

• Significant family responsibilities 

Activities #4–6: Significant Supporting Activities

These demonstrate leadership and continued involvement. 

Examples: 

• National Honor Society officer 

• Student council 

• Club president 

• School newspaper editor 

• Volunteer leadership position 

Activities #7–10: Additional Involvement

These round out your application and show a well-balanced student. 

Examples: 

• Community service 

• Church involvement 

• Summer programs 

• Part-time work with fewer hours 

• Membership-based clubs 

• Hobbies or personal projects 

Special Situations

Recruited Athletes

Your sport is usually Activity #1 unless another activity has clearly had a greater impact on your life. 

Students with Jobs

Don't underestimate a meaningful job! Working 10–20 hours each week while balancing school demonstrates responsibility, maturity, time management, and commitment. A substantial job often belongs in your top three activities. 

Suggested Order

While every student is different, this is a good starting point: 

• Major-related leadership 

• Major-related activity with significant time commitment 

• Leadership role 

• Long-term involvement 

• Community service 

• Job or family responsibilities 

• Athletics or creative arts 

• Other clubs 

• Unique personal pursuit or hobby 

• Newer activity that is growing in importance 

Remember: There is no universal "correct" order. The best order is the one that tells your story.

Step 2: Complete Each Activity Entry

Each activity has four parts. 

Activity Type

Choose the category from the drop-down menu that best fits the activity. 

Position/Leadership Description (50 characters)

Examples: 

• President 

• Captain 

• Founder 

• Lead Tutor 

• Shift Supervisor 

• Volunteer Coordinator 

Tip: Use as much of the 50-character limit as possible. A detailed title gives you more room to describe your accomplishments later. 

Organization Name (100 characters)

Enter the full name of the organization, school, employer, or team. 

Again, use the available space wisely so admissions officers clearly understand where you participated. 

Activity Description (150 characters)

This is the most important part of each activity. 

You only have 150 characters, so every word matters. 

Focus on:

• What you did 

• Your impact 

• Leadership 

• Results 

• Recognition 

Use strong action verbs and include numbers whenever possible. 

Instead of: Volunteered at food bank. 

Try: Organized 120 volunteers; packed 8,000 meals for local families. 

Instead of: Tutor. 

Try: Tutored Algebra II students weekly; improved classmates' confidence and test performance. 

Helpful Tips

• You do not need complete sentences. 

• Use abbreviations when appropriate. 

• Use semicolons, commas, and symbols to save space. 

• Remove unnecessary words like "I" or "my." 

Step 3: Preview Every Activity

After entering each activity: 

• Click Preview in the upper-right corner. 

• Check spacing and formatting. 

• Correct spelling and grammar. 

• Make sure important information isn't cut off. 

Final Checklist

Before submitting your Activities section, ask yourself: 

✓ Are my activities ranked by significance rather than prestige? 

✓ Do my first 3–5 activities tell my story? 

✓ Have I used strong action verbs? 

✓ Did I include numbers whenever possible? 

✓ Have I maximized the character limits? 

✓ Did I preview every activity for formatting and spelling? 

Remember, admissions officers are looking for depth, commitment, and impact—not a long list of memberships. A thoughtful, well-organized Activities section helps them quickly understand who you are, what you've accomplished, and what you'll contribute to their campus.