| What is a college application activity sheet? The | | | | food drive, unless you have an extensive community |
| activity sheet is a tool for admissions counselors to | | | | service resume. You don't want your activity sheet |
| evaluate the student in a perspective that is above | | | | to be a long list of "one hit wonders". Your goal is to |
| and beyond grades and test scores. All college | | | | show a depth of commitment and focus to areas |
| applications require information outlining the applicant's | | | | that are important to you. |
| extracurricular involvement. Constructing an activity | | | | Don't discount sports involvement by just listing your |
| sheet can be a daunting task for students as they | | | | teams and years of participation. Include any titles or |
| attempt to put together all their information. What | | | | recognitions the team received. If your team went |
| should they include? What is important? What are | | | | to the State finals that means you had an extended |
| colleges looking for? All these questions are legitimate | | | | season requiring more than the usual hours of |
| and should be considered when preparing a college | | | | participation. Also include any individual recognition |
| application activity sheet. Having gone through the | | | | such as All League honors. Finally, many high school |
| college application process four times in six years, I | | | | sports teams are including an element of service in |
| am able to share some insight on how to put your | | | | their season. It may be a charity fundraiser, such as |
| best foot forward on your college application resume. | | | | a Hit A Thon, a food drive, a clinic for local kids or a |
| First and foremost, recognize that the activity sheet | | | | summer camp. These should all be a part of your |
| is your chance to shine! This sheet provides a vehicle | | | | college application activity sheet. |
| for you to highlight all the great aspects of your high | | | | A final piece of advice is to limit your sheet to one |
| school career that can't be seen on your transcript. | | | | page. Keep the format simple and easy to read. |
| So feel free to brag and sell yourself! Before you | | | | Avoid complex spreadsheets, clip art and fancy fonts. |
| start to complete the activity sheet, compile a list of | | | | Finally, put your activities in order of your strengths. |
| all your high school activities, clubs, service work, | | | | If you have a lot of service work, list that first. If |
| sports teams, honors or achievements. Add to that | | | | your honors are few, put that near the end. Always, |
| list any groups of activities you were involved with | | | | always include any jobs you have held. Holding a job |
| that occurred outside of school. This could include | | | | is a reflection on your responsibility and reliability. My |
| church groups, theatrical or musical groups or service | | | | advice to younger students..start a document your |
| organizations such as Girl and Boy Scouts. Now | | | | freshman or sophomore year where you can enter |
| evaluate your list. Eliminate anything that was a | | | | your activity information on an occasional basis. By |
| one-time activity with no relation to your others. For | | | | senior year, you will have a list in place and can edit it |
| example, you don't need to add the 2 hours you | | | | accordingly. It makes the process simple and |
| spent in your sophomore year sorting cans for a | | | | stress-free. |