EC/Activity list for competitive private T20

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would think of the activity list as a resume and an opportunity to showcase your child's accomplishments and impact. You want it to tell a story and show depth if you can. We used all 10 slots for my kid. But several were related and on similar themes. Put most impactful things first. Doesn't have to be chronological.

It is actually more effective if you have good EC's to limit the activities. DC used only 7, cutting out even a multi-year activity, even though they could have easily listed 10. Admitted to 4 of T20s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would think of the activity list as a resume and an opportunity to showcase your child's accomplishments and impact. You want it to tell a story and show depth if you can. We used all 10 slots for my kid. But several were related and on similar themes. Put most impactful things first. Doesn't have to be chronological.

It is actually more effective if you have good EC's to limit the activities. DC used only 7, cutting out even a multi-year activity, even though they could have easily listed 10. Admitted to 4 of T20s.

Did your kid take out the sports? Did all of them "tie into" an academic hook or narrative?

[Anonymous]

My daughter only did ECs she was passionate about. Her ECs at school were theater, mock trial, flag football and Spanish honors society. She also had a part-time job for the last two years. She was accepted at Northwestern, WashU and Brown. I think it read as being genuine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter only did ECs she was passionate about. Her ECs at school were theater, mock trial, flag football and Spanish honors society. She also had a part-time job for the last two years. She was accepted at Northwestern, WashU and Brown. I think it read as being genuine.

Did she only have four entries? Or did she have more than four?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone post what a complete activity list for a kid admitted to a private T20 school looks like?

Someone earlier suggested 3 activities (pt job, one sport, and one club) was sufficient. I don't think that's enough but wonder if others can post what worked for their kid recently?

This post has a list in it from Command Education for an environmental science and art double major - and it is much longer than 3 minor activities (I've copied it below): https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/45/1234225.page#29553791

Is this kind of list typical for competitive private T20 schools?

https://www.commandeducation.com/resource/common-app-activities-list/

Below, you’ll find an Example Common Application Activities List!
This fictional student demonstrates a strong hook in environmental science and art. Her hook is conveyed through an impressive mix of in-school extracurriculars, out-of-school activities, summer activities, and hobbies. Not only has she pursued multiple activities in both environmental science and art, but she has also found and studied creative intersections between these fields, through painting murals at local gardens, featuring and selling her nature photography on her personal social media, and studying environmental art at a summer program. By reading her Activities List, admissions officers would be able to envision her continuing to explore these intersections as an undergraduate, as well as contributing to sustainability initiatives and artistic projects and clubs on campus.

Through this highly descriptive and well-crafted Activities List, admissions officers can glean this prospective student’s important priorities and some of her salient characteristics. This student is creatively-minded, self-driven, capable of leading groups and teams, and interested in community-building. It is clear that as a student in NYC, she has taken advantage of the extensive resources at her disposal–universities, museums, nonprofits, and even her own apartment complex–in order to contribute to her community and explore her passions from multiple angles. Lastly, the fact that this student is an accomplished student-athlete speaks to her ability to manage her time effectively and develop an impressive and diverse variety of skills.

Admissions officers always look to see whether a student’s selections for their intended majors align with their hook and Activities List, and in this case, this Activities List would best complement an intended double-major in Environmental Science and Studio Art. Because this student also has an entrepreneurial streak, she could optionally indicate a secondary interest in business if a school offers dual degrees, majors, or minors in business administration for undergraduates. It is helpful to be aware that consistency across every part of the application, from coursework and letters of recommendation to the Activities List, intended majors, and essays, is necessary for building a cohesive narrative.

Activities
Environmental
10, 11, 12
Year
4 hr/wk, 52 wk/yr
Continue

Founder, The Cactus Swap Project NYC
Build community with over 1,000 cactus-lovers in NYC. Share info about plant sales, swaps, and propagation. Hosted planting workshops at 8 schools.
Environmental
10, 11, 12
School
8 hr/wk, 25 wk/yr
Continue

President, Average HS Green Club
Organized inaugural Green Week with themed activities and prizes. Convinced school admin to implement meatless Mondays. Host weekly meetings, trips.
Research
11
Break
35 hr/wk, 8 wk/yr
Continue

Research Intern, Local University
Collected data on health and resilience of trees in NYC saltwater marshes after flooding events. Recommended species and locations for replanting.
Athletics: JV or Varsity
9, 10, 11, 12
School
16 hr/wk, 18 wk/yr
Continue

Co-Captain and Setter, Average HS Girls’ Varsity Volleyball
Individually nominated for AVCA All-American Awards and won Average HS’s Spirit Award. Team placed 1st in division and advanced to state semifinals.
Community Service (Volunteer)
9, 10, 11, 12
Year
1 hr/wk, 26 wk/yr
Continue

Volunteer and Muralist, Beautiful Gardens Nonprofit
Create public art installations including murals and sculptures in community gardens. Designed rooftop herb garden installation for restaurant.
Community Service (Volunteer)
10
Break
6 hr/wk, 8 wk/yr
Continue

Volunteer, Major Urban Art Museum
Greet and direct visitors at information desk and coat check. Work shifts at gift shop and assist customers with check out and locating merchandise.
Art
9, 10, 11, 12
Year
1 hr/wk, 52 wk/yr
Continue

Painter and Photographer, @StudentName on Instagram and Etsy
Create art (paintings, portrait photography, nature photography) and exhibit on personal Instagram. Sell prints and stickers with $500+ in profits.
Art
10
Break
35 hr/wk, 3 wk/yr
Continue

Participant, State University’s Summer Environmental Art Institute
Studied intersections of art and environmental activism. Created multimedia portfolio of 5 works under guidance of professional artist First Last.
Work (Paid)
9, 10, 11, 12
Year
4 hr/wk, 45 wk/yr
Continue

Owner, Dog-Walking Business
Run dog-walking service with my siblings for neighbors in apartment complex.
Student Govt./Politics
11, 12
Year
1 hr/wk, 36 wk/yr
Continue

Class Representative, Average HS Student Government
Elected by peers as 1 of 4 class reps. Create and print posters to promote events, design and order class spiritwear, manage social media.

I want to point out that this kid apparently averaged 27 hours a week of activities through all of 10th grade, including breaks, and vacations, and the week of Christmas. That's if you assume that the 1 hour a week for a varsity sport is right (it can't be), and that she somehow had a volunteer position at a museum that included shifts in the gift shop that was only 1 hour a week and that happened every single week with no breaks for vacations.

The other option is that this list was written by ChatGPT who has never played HS volleyball or been in a gift shop or figured out that rich kids go on vacation and thus skip weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would think of the activity list as a resume and an opportunity to showcase your child's accomplishments and impact. You want it to tell a story and show depth if you can. We used all 10 slots for my kid. But several were related and on similar themes. Put most impactful things first. Doesn't have to be chronological.

It is actually more effective if you have good EC's to limit the activities. DC used only 7, cutting out even a multi-year activity, even though they could have easily listed 10. Admitted to 4 of T20s.

This is generally correct when you have a big spike. For example, when your DC is MOPS, you can omit many lower level math activities albeit they are multi-year, leaving one or two highest achievements.

[Anonymous]

LOL at "owner" dog-walking business for siblings and neighbor! Essentially this person is doing some dog-walking for their own family dog (referenced as sibling's dog) and neighbor and calling it a business they owned/founded.

This feels over the top. This whole thread is interesting. I went to Penn and my oldest is at Brown without any of this silly overstated EC nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LOL at "owner" dog-walking business for siblings and neighbor! Essentially this person is doing some dog-walking for their own family dog (referenced as sibling's dog) and neighbor and calling it a business they owned/founded.

This feels over the top. This whole thread is interesting. I went to Penn and my oldest is at Brown without any of this silly overstated EC nonsense.

What we did isn’t relevant.

What did your kid do? What was their spike? How many activities listed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lol you people are too much

Check this out. From a few 2025 Seniors.

https://www.t20bound.com/