Anonymous
10/24/2025 12:19
Subject: Activities section
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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.
I know someone who does crew. Very few other ECs due to time commitment for rowing.
+1
I have a kid who spent 25-30 hours per week, all year long competing in niche sport while attending their local public school. They have no activities to put down aside from being an occasional club member. No leadership roles, no jobs. They let their passion consume everything and they are looking back with regret.
Add hobbies that they do in their free time in addition to what they do with summer camps for their sport and coaching. So things like knitting, calligraphy, bookbinding, drawing or jewelry making. It doesn’t have to be crazy. You’d be surprised at how full and robust of a profile your kid probably has with their own unique interests.
Admissions officers know how much time sports take especially when you are school Captain and you also do the travel sport. Combine that with coaching for clinics and summer programs and that is 4 separate slots in the activities list.
Add hobbies!
Anonymous
10/24/2025 10:02
Subject: Activities section
I think the whole point is to add some personality to the 10 ECs so you don't sound like every other robotics, STEM, DECA, HOSA, Debate or MUN kid.
As you read these apps, your eyes skim it all - it's so common (and boring).
A kid who does something different does stand out - there's an art to it. The Sunday example is not good, but there are plenty of others online.
Just don't quantify everything as mentioned earlier - that's not "good" either. Add some heart, emotion, and personality. Think about how your kid is different from every other kid out there. Then, add that in.
As you read these apps, your eyes skim it all - it's so common (and boring).
A kid who does something different does stand out - there's an art to it. The Sunday example is not good, but there are plenty of others online.
Just don't quantify everything as mentioned earlier - that's not "good" either. Add some heart, emotion, and personality. Think about how your kid is different from every other kid out there. Then, add that in.
Anonymous
10/24/2025 09:40
Subject: Activities section
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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.
I know someone who does crew. Very few other ECs due to time commitment for rowing.
+1
I have a kid who spent 25-30 hours per week, all year long competing in niche sport while attending their local public school. They have no activities to put down aside from being an occasional club member. No leadership roles, no jobs. They let their passion consume everything and they are looking back with regret.
My kid does that for their sport (year round- practice 4 nights a week/gages weekends and lots of travel) —both my kids. They still had summer jobs and community service and one club they did since freshmen year.
Anonymous
10/24/2025 09:10
Subject: Activities section
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you all. This whole application process is bonkers in so many ways. A student listing their activities shouldn’t have to put so much thought into it!
It’s not just the activities. If you’re applying to selective schools, so make sure you think hard about how you’re portraying yourself. This is a marketing exercise for your kid. To show their true authentic self and passions. It’s not a list recounting or regurgitating every hour that they’ve spent of their HS life. Think of it as not just the activities.
Advice for the kid:
If you’re applying to selective schools, make sure you think hard about how you’re portraying yourself.
Think of it as a highlight reel.
Anonymous
10/24/2025 09:07
Subject: Activities section
OP here. Thank you all. This whole application process is bonkers in so many ways. A student listing their activities shouldn’t have to put so much thought into it!
Anonymous
10/24/2025 08:57
Subject: Activities section
Anonymous wrote: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.
I’d lean into summers. Volunteer or get a summer job. Could she also talk about any non-athlete role she may have on her rowing team?
Are there other hobbies? Hiking with the family, helping family members, crafting?
Anonymous
10/24/2025 08:40
Subject: Activities section
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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.
I know someone who does crew. Very few other ECs due to time commitment for rowing.
+1
I have a kid who spent 25-30 hours per week, all year long competing in niche sport while attending their local public school. They have no activities to put down aside from being an occasional club member. No leadership roles, no jobs. They let their passion consume everything and they are looking back with regret.
Add hobbies. An IEC presentation showed how to make a kid like this seem more multidimensional
(Founder Russian book club; self taught other languages; translating Russian poetry for xyz; crocheting or knitting for abc).
Anonymous
10/24/2025 07:24
Subject: Activities section
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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.
I know someone who does crew. Very few other ECs due to time commitment for rowing.
+1
I have a kid who spent 25-30 hours per week, all year long competing in niche sport while attending their local public school. They have no activities to put down aside from being an occasional club member. No leadership roles, no jobs. They let their passion consume everything and they are looking back with regret.
My kid is like that but it was a different activity. I did feel exactly like you. When we used SH, she admonished us "one dimensional", everything in the application is about that one activity, told us to redo everything - personal statement, supplemental essays, activities and even recommendation letter.
Kid did not want to change a thing, ended up with two admits to HYPSM.
I think AO's can tease out genuine passion and like kids who are authentic. No one who read my kid's application would say it is polished and done by anybody other than the kid.
Give your best shot and you might be surprised.
Anonymous
10/24/2025 04:57
Subject: Activities section
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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.
Y or N:
—the example in the link that she uses as the “good” EC description is good?
—it says: It's supposed to read like a high school student is describing what they do in the most authentic, unique, and personal way.
This sounds authentic: “ to bring sustenance to those in need” and The tone, style, and delivery are “magical.”
I think there’s some really nerdy kids who sound like that. Mine definitely would not.
There’s a difference between knowing a word and using a word like that in that context. I don’t even know an adult who would use it like that even if it’s used correctly. It sounds stilted and bizarre, absolutely not magical.
Anonymous
10/24/2025 02:24
Subject: Activities section
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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.
I know someone who does crew. Very few other ECs due to time commitment for rowing.
+1
I have a kid who spent 25-30 hours per week, all year long competing in niche sport while attending their local public school. They have no activities to put down aside from being an occasional club member. No leadership roles, no jobs. They let their passion consume everything and they are looking back with regret.
Anonymous
10/24/2025 00:41
Subject: Re:Activities section
Anonymous wrote:Who would describe cooking for a shelter as “ Description: Sundays are for cooking!”
No kid would, it sounds like a boomer wrote it!
Anonymous
10/24/2025 00:40
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
Her advice is so cringy and awful! I hope no one does what she suggests.
Anonymous
10/23/2025 23:56
Subject: Activities section
Anonymous wrote: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.
Y or N:
—the example in the link that she uses as the “good” EC description is good?
—it says: It's supposed to read like a high school student is describing what they do in the most authentic, unique, and personal way.
This sounds authentic: “ to bring sustenance to those in need” and The tone, style, and delivery are “magical.”
I think there’s some really nerdy kids who sound like that. Mine definitely would not.
Anonymous
10/23/2025 23:11
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.
Y or N:
—the example in the link that she uses as the “good” EC description is good?
—it says: It's supposed to read like a high school student is describing what they do in the most authentic, unique, and personal way.
This sounds authentic: “ to bring sustenance to those in need” and The tone, style, and delivery are “magical.”
Anonymous
10/23/2025 22:55
Subject: Activities section
Anonymous wrote: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.
I know someone who does crew. Very few other ECs due to time commitment for rowing.