EC listing strategy in common app

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does everyone make one of the 10 activities kind of quirky to show personality or stress hobbies?

There was one posted on this site a few weeks ago and “dog walking” was listed as one of the 10 main activities (towards the bottom of the list). I’ve been looking on Reddit and in other places for successful candidates and it looks like many people have one hobby listed.

Anyone btdt? What hobby did your kid list?

Just saw that reddit post in another thread that referenced the following hobbies as ECs:

Learning K-Pop dance moves.
Cheerleading.
Amateur meteorology (following weather models, participating in weather chat groups, and predicting storms).

All help AO envision these kids involved with countless campus clubs with a personality and genuine and varied interests.

So basically, you really can make up whatever you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does everyone make one of the 10 activities kind of quirky to show personality or stress hobbies?

There was one posted on this site a few weeks ago and “dog walking” was listed as one of the 10 main activities (towards the bottom of the list). I’ve been looking on Reddit and in other places for successful candidates and it looks like many people have one hobby listed.

Anyone btdt? What hobby did your kid list?

Just saw that reddit post in another thread that referenced the following hobbies as ECs:

Learning K-Pop dance moves.
Cheerleading.
Amateur meteorology (following weather models, participating in weather chat groups, and predicting storms).

All help AO envision these kids involved with countless campus clubs with a personality and genuine and varied interests.

So basically, you really can make up whatever you want.

Yes, but be ready to speak to it in the interview!

Would be rather bizarre to make up the dance moves one? Cheerleading would need a team. Meteorology is so niche & specific.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does everyone make one of the 10 activities kind of quirky to show personality or stress hobbies?

There was one posted on this site a few weeks ago and “dog walking” was listed as one of the 10 main activities (towards the bottom of the list). I’ve been looking on Reddit and in other places for successful candidates and it looks like many people have one hobby listed.

Anyone btdt? What hobby did your kid list?

Just saw that reddit post in another thread that referenced the following hobbies as ECs:

Learning K-Pop dance moves.
Cheerleading.
Amateur meteorology (following weather models, participating in weather chat groups, and predicting storms).

All help AO envision these kids involved with countless campus clubs with a personality and genuine and varied interests.

So basically, you really can make up whatever you want.

Don’t make up. Every kid has these random interests. Encourage them to highlight what makes them special. I promise there is something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think even for a quirky hobby it should still somehow related to DC’s narratives? Like building a wild life habitat if you’re pursuing ecology major? Or tropical fish at home if the intended major is marine biology?

No, I wouldn't. That looks "over curated" - and could signal parental management, etc. Look on admityogi.com for how many successful kids do it.
Don't make it look like an adult resume.

Mine got nothing quirky.
Spent most free time on sports, gym, browsing.
Doodling and counting calories for every meal. But it’s pointless to list them.

art doodling? that's actually cool.
if so, i'd include that. encourage your kid to submit their art to local contests (links below).

Doodle Artist
Independent Art Practice
Create doodle art through free-form drawing sessions, exploring how wandering thoughts translate into visual stories, competing in local and national contests, like Red Bull Doodle Art, while encouraging others to embrace their own messy, imaginative creative side.

https://explorersagainstextinction.co.uk/initiatives/sketch-for-survival/sketch-for-survival-competition/
https://www.blackcatmke.com/news/red-bull-doodle-contest
https://doodles.google.com/d4g/

A bit too heavy…

Way too heavy. I'd lighten it up.

Activity: Art; Doodle Art, Regional and National Competitions
Position: Mind-Wanderer Turned Competitor
Description: I used to think my constant doodling was just a bad habit, but after entering my first [Red Bull Doodle] Art contest, I learned I'd accidentally been training for something I love. [8] competitions later, still surprised I call myself an artist.

That's great if that's the way a kid's art naturally develops, but implying that a kid who doodles for joy needs to go sign up for contests, is like implying that reading only has value if you set up a book club. We've got two teenagers for whom drawing, doodling or otherwise, is a hobby and a great stress relief. They both compete in other areas, but art fills a different role for them. Turning it from a relaxed hobby that gives them balance and stress release, to a competitive endeavor would ruin it.

Did they include something light-hearted like this in the common app activities?

Neither has written their activity list yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does everyone make one of the 10 activities kind of quirky to show personality or stress hobbies?

There was one posted on this site a few weeks ago and “dog walking” was listed as one of the 10 main activities (towards the bottom of the list). I’ve been looking on Reddit and in other places for successful candidates and it looks like many people have one hobby listed.

Anyone btdt? What hobby did your kid list?

Just saw that reddit post in another thread that referenced the following hobbies as ECs:

Learning K-Pop dance moves.
Cheerleading.
Amateur meteorology (following weather models, participating in weather chat groups, and predicting storms).

All help AO envision these kids involved with countless campus clubs with a personality and genuine and varied interests.

So basically, you really can make up whatever you want.

I doubt it a normal teenager needs to make up anything for their "hobby" item.

[Anonymous]

So sad for these kids that everything they do needs to be a competition.
Not collaborative or healthy or fun or to enjoy - but must compete and be the best.

Then we wonder why there is so much loneliness, depression, anxiety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:.

Anyone btdt? What hobby did your kid list?

Go ahead, it's fine. Mine listed Reading saying it had become a habit and listed example titles to demonstrate width of interests. Got into a top SLAC.

Hopefully their reading habit taught them the difference between “width” and “breadth.”

lol

… and, please stop calling their DC “neurotic”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does everyone make one of the 10 activities kind of quirky to show personality or stress hobbies?

There was one posted on this site a few weeks ago and “dog walking” was listed as one of the 10 main activities (towards the bottom of the list). I’ve been looking on Reddit and in other places for successful candidates and it looks like many people have one hobby listed.

Anyone btdt? What hobby did your kid list?

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1233143.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So sad for these kids that everything they do needs to be a competition.
Not collaborative or healthy or fun or to enjoy - but must compete and be the best.

Then we wonder why there is so much loneliness, depression, anxiety.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does everyone make one of the 10 activities kind of quirky to show personality or stress hobbies?

There was one posted on this site a few weeks ago and “dog walking” was listed as one of the 10 main activities (towards the bottom of the list). I’ve been looking on Reddit and in other places for successful candidates and it looks like many people have one hobby listed.

Anyone btdt? What hobby did your kid list?

Just saw that reddit post in another thread that referenced the following hobbies as ECs:

Learning K-Pop dance moves.
Cheerleading.
Amateur meteorology (following weather models, participating in weather chat groups, and predicting storms).

All help AO envision these kids involved with countless campus clubs with a personality and genuine and varied interests.

So basically, you really can make up whatever you want.

Don’t make up. Every kid has these random interests. Encourage them to highlight what makes them special. I promise there is something.

I’m not going to encourage my kid to make up anything. But I think we’ve really jumped the shark here. If people are actually listing these random little interests as activities, then perhaps her perfectly honest, frank list of regular stuff will stand out as special.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does everyone make one of the 10 activities kind of quirky to show personality or stress hobbies?

There was one posted on this site a few weeks ago and “dog walking” was listed as one of the 10 main activities (towards the bottom of the list). I’ve been looking on Reddit and in other places for successful candidates and it looks like many people have one hobby listed.

Anyone btdt? What hobby did your kid list?

Just saw that reddit post in another thread that referenced the following hobbies as ECs:

Learning K-Pop dance moves.
Cheerleading.
Amateur meteorology (following weather models, participating in weather chat groups, and predicting storms).

All help AO envision these kids involved with countless campus clubs with a personality and genuine and varied interests.

So basically, you really can make up whatever you want.

Don’t make up. Every kid has these random interests. Encourage them to highlight what makes them special. I promise there is something.

I’m not going to encourage my kid to make up anything. But I think we’ve really jumped the shark here. If people are actually listing these random little interests as activities, then perhaps her perfectly honest, frank list of regular stuff will stand out as special.

3 years ago private counselors were pushing hobbies as ECs. It’s not new.
Woodworking; coin collecting and crocheting all came from that last cohort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you think even for a quirky hobby it should still somehow related to DC’s narratives? Like building a wild life habitat if you’re pursuing ecology major? Or tropical fish at home if the intended major is marine biology?

No, I wouldn't. That looks "over curated" - and could signal parental management, etc. Look on admityogi.com for how many successful kids do it.
Don't make it look like an adult resume.

Mine got nothing quirky.
Spent most free time on sports, gym, browsing.
Doodling and counting calories for every meal. But it’s pointless to list them.

art doodling? that's actually cool.
if so, i'd include that. encourage your kid to submit their art to local contests (links below).

Doodle Artist
Independent Art Practice
Create doodle art through free-form drawing sessions, exploring how wandering thoughts translate into visual stories, competing in local and national contests, like Red Bull Doodle Art, while encouraging others to embrace their own messy, imaginative creative side.

https://explorersagainstextinction.co.uk/initiatives/sketch-for-survival/sketch-for-survival-competition/
https://www.blackcatmke.com/news/red-bull-doodle-contest
https://doodles.google.com/d4g/

A bit too heavy…

Way too heavy. I'd lighten it up.

Activity: Art; Doodle Art, Regional and National Competitions
Position: Mind-Wanderer Turned Competitor
Description: I used to think my constant doodling was just a bad habit, but after entering my first [Red Bull Doodle] Art contest, I learned I'd accidentally been training for something I love. [8] competitions later, still surprised I call myself an artist.

That's great if that's the way a kid's art naturally develops, but implying that a kid who doodles for joy needs to go sign up for contests, is like implying that reading only has value if you set up a book club. We've got two teenagers for whom drawing, doodling or otherwise, is a hobby and a great stress relief. They both compete in other areas, but art fills a different role for them. Turning it from a relaxed hobby that gives them balance and stress release, to a competitive endeavor would ruin it.

Art might be something one of your kids writes about for the CA essay. Ask them to consider it if they’re stuck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you should absolutely list hobbies. This adds "texture" to your application. Most high stats kids are missing texture.

Example: instead of reading books put "Organized a community book club focusing on 20th-century American literature, which improved my analytical skills and fostered a local network of literary enthusiasts."

https://www.collegevine.com/faq/8559/best-way-to-list-hobbies-on-common-app#

Most kids have hobbies. The point is to personalize your kid and not make them seem like a bot.

https://empowerly.com/applications/common-app-activities-examples/

This is the stupidest thing. Who on earth thinks this type of narration is a good strategy?

Agree. I don't know any HSer who would say "fostered a local network of literary enthusiasts..." Now THAT sounds like a bot.

I also agree, but applicants do this all the time and get into excellent colleges. There is a very short space so people are efficient and to the point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does everyone make one of the 10 activities kind of quirky to show personality or stress hobbies?

There was one posted on this site a few weeks ago and “dog walking” was listed as one of the 10 main activities (towards the bottom of the list). I’ve been looking on Reddit and in other places for successful candidates and it looks like many people have one hobby listed.

Anyone btdt? What hobby did your kid list?

Just saw that reddit post in another thread that referenced the following hobbies as ECs:

Learning K-Pop dance moves.
Cheerleading.
Amateur meteorology (following weather models, participating in weather chat groups, and predicting storms).

All help AO envision these kids involved with countless campus clubs with a personality and genuine and varied interests.

So basically, you really can make up whatever you want.

Good luck with that

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you should absolutely list hobbies. This adds "texture" to your application. Most high stats kids are missing texture.

Example: instead of reading books put "Organized a community book club focusing on 20th-century American literature, which improved my analytical skills and fostered a local network of literary enthusiasts."

https://www.collegevine.com/faq/8559/best-way-to-list-hobbies-on-common-app#

Most kids have hobbies. The point is to personalize your kid and not make them seem like a bot.

https://empowerly.com/applications/common-app-activities-examples/

This is the stupidest thing. Who on earth thinks this type of narration is a good strategy?

Agree. I don't know any HSer who would say "fostered a local network of literary enthusiasts..." Now THAT sounds like a bot.

I also agree, but applicants do this all the time and get into excellent colleges. There is a very short space so people are efficient and to the point.

💯