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How to Describe Extracurricular Activities

Describing your extracurricular activities in college applications can be as important as highlighting your academic achievements. This guide will walk you through how to effectively select and present extracurricular activities in essays and applications. We’ll explore how to choose the right activity to describe, build a compelling narrative, and transform a list of activities into engaging essays. Additionally, you’ll find a helpful list of action verbs to enhance your descriptions and learn how to turn these strategies into polished essays with the aid of video lessons. Finally, you’ll get insights into a comprehensive course designed to assist you with writing your supplemental essays.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

How do I decide which extracurricular activity to write about?

Choosing the right extracurricular activity to highlight in your application begins with an introspective look at your experiences. Start by compiling all your activities, ranging from sports teams to volunteer work. Look for those that hold significance in your development and align with the personal narrative you wish to share with the admissions committee.

Consider factors such as personal growth, leadership roles, and the impact of your involvement. It’s essential to prioritize activities where you have demonstrated leadership or passion. Schools are interested in how these activities have shaped who you are and what they say about your potential as a student and contributor to their community.

How to Structure Your Extracurricular Essay

Boring Essay:

A common pitfall in writing about extracurricular activities is listing tasks or accomplishments without context or reflection. An essay that merely enumerates responsibilities or awards tends to be monotonous. For instance, “I was the treasurer of the debate club, where I managed finances,” lacks depth and fails to engage admissions officers.

This approach doesn’t dive into why the role mattered to you or how it challenged you to grow. Without personal insights or anecdotes, this kind of essay becomes a dry recounting of facts, devoid of the applicant’s unique voice.

Stand-out Essay:

A stand-out essay takes the reader deeper into your experience, capturing not just what happened but why it mattered. Instead of emphasizing the title, focus on how the activity influenced your perspective or skills. For example, “As a debate club treasurer, I learned the critical balance between assertiveness and diplomacy when persuading the team to invest in new resources.”

Include stories or specific instances where your involvement brought about personal growth or meaningful change. This narrative approach not only holds the reader’s attention but also highlights the unique qualities and strengths you bring to the table.

How to Turn This Exercise Into an Essay

Begin by selecting a core moment or experience within your chosen activity that highlights change or growth. Describe this moment vividly to draw your reader in, using sensory details and reflections that connect to broader themes in your life.

Transform these reflections into a coherent story. Organize your thoughts in a way that leads the reader through a journey—illustrating where you started, the challenges you faced, the resolution, and what you learned. Ensure your narrative concludes with reflections that tie back to your academic and career ambitions.

College Essay Guy’s Epic List of Activities List Verbs

A vital component of crafting engaging extracurricular essays is the use of strong, varied action verbs. These verbs help convey clarity and vigor to your contributions and accomplishments effectively. Instead of saying, “I helped with the fundraiser,” consider, “I orchestrated a community fundraiser.”

Here’s a tip: Maintain a list of dynamic verbs which include words like ‘orchestrate’, ‘initiate’, ‘collaborate’, and ‘innovate’. These verbs elevate your narrative by providing a sense of action and engagement, critical to capturing the reader’s interest.

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When considering which activities to write about, remember that quantity does not equate to quality. Focus on 2-3 activities that genuinely demonstrate leadership, passion, and growth. Admissions officers prefer depth over breadth when assessing extracurricular involvement.

Illustrate how each experience connects to your overarching narrative and future goals. This depth showcases a commitment and a capacity to pursue interests wholeheartedly, qualities that colleges value highly.

VIDEO LESSONS

Video lessons offer structured guidance through the complex process of writing compelling extracurricular essays. These lessons provide visual and auditory learners detailed walkthroughs, from brainstorming your essay topic to refining your final draft.

These resources are designed to empower students by demystifying the writing process, offering tips on how to present the best version of their extracurricular experiences efficiently and engagingly.

WANT HELP writing YOUR Supplemental Essays? CHECK OUT MY STEP-BY-STEP VIDEO COURSE

Our step-by-step video course is tailored to assist students in crafting powerful supplemental essays. This comprehensive guide walks you through each step of the writing process, ensuring you address all facets of your chosen activities effectively.

Featuring personalized strategies, interactive exercises, and expert feedback, this course aims to transform your approach to extracurricular essays, enhancing your narrative and distinguishing your application in the competitive admissions landscape.

Summary of Main Points

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