Document activities meticulously

Overview

Starting a detailed activities tracker now will save you so much time when applications open! Future you will be very grateful.

What to Track for Each Activity

• Activity name and organization
• Your position/role
• Grade levels involved (9, 10, 11, 12)
• Hours per week and weeks per year
• Specific description of YOUR contributions (this is key!)
• Awards or recognition received
• Quantified impact whenever possible

Common App Preview

You'll eventually need to fit each activity into:

• 50 characters for position/title
• 150 characters for description

Start practicing this format now — it's trickier than it sounds!

Example Transformation

❌ Before: "Member of debate team"

✅ After: "Varsity Captain; Led team to state semifinals; Mentored 8 novice debaters; Organized 3 tournaments"

Powerful Action Verbs

Founded, Led, Organized, Managed, Created, Developed, Increased, Raised, Coordinated, Trained, Mentored

Pro Tip

Update this document monthly — it's much easier than trying to remember everything at the end of the year!