Anonymous
Post 10/23/2025 22:52     Subject: Activities section
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Did anyone follow these tips? We used more resume-type formatting (semicolons, etc).

https://www.saraharberson.com/blog/mistakes-common-app-activities-list


Both of her examples are terrible because they waste characters without giving information. How many meals did she cook? For how many people? Etc. "Sundays are for coming!" doesn't give the AO any information.


I think the issue is everyone is listening to TikTok counselors (325 meals search; 4800 raised; grew membership 400%) that it all sounds the same - like embellished made up Numbers and nonsense.

Her advice is to be different. We followed it - to an extent - last cycle. You want to be memorable. Great Ivy and T20 results.

She had a great pizza server example last cycle - that just made you smile.

The entire process is not about creating the most detailed accounting of your HS time/ECs (people think this and they’re wrong).

It’s to create a story that makes you memorable so the admissions officer remembers you. Comes up with a nickname for you. Is willing to fight for you. That’s all you’re hoping for.

Something to make them stop scrolling.


+1
Anonymous
Post 10/23/2025 22:01     Subject: Activities section
How many ECs do kids have to list? My daughter barely has time to do much outside of her rowing, where she's devoting 3+ hours a day year-around. Is she really expected to hold down jobs or be a president of a club that has impact? This is a little scary.
Anonymous
Post 10/23/2025 20:16     Subject: Activities section
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Did anyone follow these tips? We used more resume-type formatting (semicolons, etc).

https://www.saraharberson.com/blog/mistakes-common-app-activities-list


Both of her examples are terrible because they waste characters without giving information. How many meals did she cook? For how many people? Etc. "Sundays are for coming!" doesn't give the AO any information.


I think the issue is everyone is listening to TikTok counselors (325 meals search; 4800 raised; grew membership 400%) that it all sounds the same - like embellished made up Numbers and nonsense.

Her advice is to be different. We followed it - to an extent - last cycle. You want to be memorable. Great Ivy and T20 results.

She had a great pizza server example last cycle - that just made you smile.

The entire process is not about creating the most detailed accounting of your HS time/ECs (people think this and they’re wrong).

It’s to create a story that makes you memorable so the admissions officer remembers you. Comes up with a nickname for you. Is willing to fight for you. That’s all you’re hoping for.

Something to make them stop scrolling.
Anonymous
Post 10/23/2025 20:01     Subject: Activities section
Anonymous wrote:Did anyone follow these tips? We used more resume-type formatting (semicolons, etc).

https://www.saraharberson.com/blog/mistakes-common-app-activities-list


Both of her examples are terrible because they waste characters without giving information. How many meals did she cook? For how many people? Etc. "Sundays are for coming!" doesn't give the AO any information.
Anonymous
Post 10/23/2025 19:55     Subject: Activities section
Anonymous wrote:Dc said Yes to all activities because it was the truth. If your kid says no to the restaurant job, will it raise questions about why not?


NP. No it won't. It's obviously a high school summer job. Once the kid is in college, they will be looking to do other things in the summer. If it was 4 years volunteering in a soup kitchen and they wrote their essay about how meaningful it was, then, yes, it's weird if they say they don't want to continue. But most college kids are going to be thinking about internships, not working the same crappy jobs they had in high school.
Anonymous
Post 10/23/2025 19:33     Subject: Activities section
Dc said Yes to all activities because it was the truth. If your kid says no to the restaurant job, will it raise questions about why not?
Anonymous
Post 10/23/2025 19:20     Subject: Re:Activities section
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Who would describe cooking for a shelter as “ Description: Sundays are for cooking!”


A 50 yo mom


Yeah, this is so stupid. I don’t care who this woman is a) no kid talks like that b) it’s so fake and disingenuous.
Anonymous
Post 10/23/2025 19:18     Subject: Activities section
Anonymous wrote:Did anyone follow these tips? We used more resume-type formatting (semicolons, etc).

https://www.saraharberson.com/blog/mistakes-common-app-activities-list


My senior has taken a more resume like approach as well. There are just too few characters to do what she recommends doing in an effective manner.
Anonymous
Post 10/23/2025 19:03     Subject: Re:Activities section
Anonymous wrote:Who would describe cooking for a shelter as “ Description: Sundays are for cooking!”


A 50 yo mom
Anonymous
Post 10/23/2025 19:02     Subject: Re:Activities section
Who would describe cooking for a shelter as “ Description: Sundays are for cooking!”
Anonymous
Post 10/23/2025 17:31     Subject: Activities section
I disagree with Sara on this one. Yes, name the actual name of the organization - otherwise, it sounds fake like you're trying not to be transparent - but using that space to be creative and show your intentions seems weird. It sounds like you're humble-bragging.
Anonymous
Post 10/23/2025 17:24     Subject: Activities section
Anonymous wrote:Did anyone follow these tips? We used more resume-type formatting (semicolons, etc).

https://www.saraharberson.com/blog/mistakes-common-app-activities-list


I don’t like a lot of what she says.
Anonymous
Post 10/23/2025 16:27     Subject: Activities section
Did anyone follow these tips? We used more resume-type formatting (semicolons, etc).

https://www.saraharberson.com/blog/mistakes-common-app-activities-list
Anonymous
Post 10/23/2025 16:26     Subject: Activities section
Don't say yes to everything. Just do a few things. I don't think he needs to mark yes to the kitchen work.
Anonymous
Post 10/23/2025 16:09     Subject: Activities section
My DS is working on his activities section of the common app. He just asked me if he should say “yes” to the question about insertion of continuing the activity in college. For example, he’s worked in restaurant kitchen as summer jobs. He hopes to do other things over the summer in college but wouldn’t rule out restaurant work if other summer jobs/internship/research do not pan out.

What do you all think?