InEduverse’s Guide to Creating an Activity List for Common App

Why the Common App Activity List Matters for Indian Students

The Common App activity list is a snapshot of your extracurricular life, showcasing qualities US universities value: resilience, initiative, and community impact. For Indian applicants, this section helps bridge cultural context and counters the stereotype of being solely exam-focused. Strategic arrangement and depth can elevate perceived application strength, especially as competition from India grows.

Insights and guidance from InEduverse show that admissions officers favour sustained impact over a long list of superficial entries.

Fact: The Common Application allows up to 10 activity entries, each with a 150-character description limit — emphasising impact over quantity.

Local experiences such as NSS, festival organisation, or family responsibilities can be reframed to show leadership, time management, and community impact. Quantifying outcomes (e.g., “Raised ₹50,000 for charity”) adds credibility.

Deep Dive: Step-by-Step Strategies for Your Common App Activity List

Understanding the Structure and Limits

The Common App categorises activities into types like athletics, arts, and community service. For Indian students, include activities from grades 9–12 and relevant summer programmes or family duties. The official Common App resource outlines the exact constraints and categories; review it when finalising entries: Common App Activities Resource (PDF).

Remember the text limits: 50 characters for position/organisation and 150 characters for the description — every word must convey action and impact.

How to Select and Order Your Activities

Prioritise activities that align with your intended major or personal story. Order by significance so that the most relevant or impressive items appear first — admissions officers may not read all entries.

1. Identify your top 3–5 passions.
2. Rank by impact: hours, achievements, leadership roles.
3. Ensure diversity: mix academics, arts, service, and unique local experiences.
4. Use first-person implied ownership with action verbs in descriptions.

Grouping similar activities to show progression (e.g., member → leader) signals growth. For India-specific pursuits like NSS volunteering, highlight measurable outcomes and community reach.

Writing Compelling Descriptions

With a 150-character limit, precision matters. Start with a strong verb, quantify results, and emphasise impact. Avoid uncommon abbreviations and prioritise clarity.

Example from the field: “Founded eco-club; led 50 members in tree-planting drives, planting 1,000 saplings across Delhi.” This format demonstrates leadership, scale, and outcome in a compact form.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Common pitfalls include overloading the list with low-impact entries, vague descriptions, and exaggeration. Avoid filler — if an activity lacks meaningful contribution, it’s better omitted.

• Do not exaggerate roles or achievements; credibility matters.
• Avoid vague phrases like “helped at NGO” — instead, specify actions and outcomes.
• Don’t use too many abbreviations; clarity benefits international readers.

InEduverse’s counselling emphasises authenticity: a genuine leadership position in a school club often outweighs a nominal role in a high-profile organisation.

Comparing Activity Lists for Different Destinations

Common App (US) and UCAS (UK) prioritise different elements. Use this table to compare approaches when targeting multiple destinations.

This comparison helps Indian families decide where to invest effort depending on destination preferences.

Practical Implications for Indian Students and Parents

The activity list translates local experiences into globally compelling stories. For example, family responsibilities or local volunteering initiatives can demonstrate maturity and leadership. Admissions value well-rounded profiles, and extracurriculars often complement essays and recommendations.

Actionable steps for Indian families:

• Audit activities early (grades 9–11) to identify gaps.
• Use measurable goals for school clubs and community projects.
• Leverage virtual global programmes if international exposure is limited.

Expert Recommendations from InEduverse

Drawing on experience guiding 500+ students, InEduverse recommends starting with self-reflection: what activities truly define you? Our counsellors suggest categorising by theme — leadership, creativity, service — to craft a cohesive narrative across the 10 Common App slots.

Practical counselling tips we emphasise:

• Place major-related activities first to align with intended field of study.
• Use concise, metric-backed descriptions to convey scale and impact.
• Reframe India-specific roles (e.g., festival organiser) to highlight transferable skills like event management and teamwork.

Book a personalised strategy session with our experts to review drafts and ensure alignment with target universities: Book a Strategy Session with InEduverse.

Success Stories: Real Outcomes from InEduverse Clients

Examples from anonymised InEduverse clients illustrate how tailored activity lists convert into admissions wins:

• Environmental science applicant: “Initiated waste management drive; educated 500 peers, reducing campus litter by 40%.” Result: admission to UCLA.
• Music + engineering balance: “Tabla performer in cultural troupe; organised 10 events, fostering Indo-US cultural exchange.” Result: admission to NYU.

These outcomes demonstrate that strategic framing, quantification, and alignment with the application narrative can yield strong results at top-tier institutions.

Actionable Takeaways & Next Steps

1. List 8–10 activities prioritising quality and relevance.
2. Draft descriptions using action verbs, metrics, and brief reflections.
3. Order activities by significance and relation to intended major.
4. Seek expert feedback early — InEduverse offers tailored reviews and strategy sessions.
5. Ensure consistency between activities, essays, and recommendations for a cohesive application narrative.

To get personalised help, book a Strategy Session with InEduverse and receive targeted recommendations for Fall 2026 applicants and beyond.