How can I best use College Essay Guy's advice for the activities section?

Using College Essay Guy’s strategies for the activities section can definitely help your application feel more distinctive, especially because so many applicants have overlapping experiences. The key is being intentional with your word choice and showing impact rather than just listing duties.

For the Common App, you only have 150 characters (including spaces) per activity, so every word needs to count. The “verbs first” rule really works: start each description with a strong action verb. This makes your contribution clear and energetic. For example, instead of “Responsible for organizing meetings in Model UN,” try “Organized and led weekly Model UN meetings, boosting participation by 30%.” You’re summarizing what you did and the result, all in a compact way.

The “impact + details” method is also helpful. The idea is to lead with what you achieved, not just what you did. Don’t write, “Volunteered at local animal shelter.” Instead, say something like, “Created Instagram campaign for animal shelter, increasing donations by $400.”

For your unique community service, highlight the quirky aspect! Say you ran D&D sessions for kids at a community center—don’t just say “Volunteered at community center.” Be specific: “Led fantasy storytelling workshops for 12 kids, fostering creativity and teamwork.”

Two strategies that work well:

1. Quantify your impact when possible. Numbers stand out ("Debated at 5 regional tournaments; awarded Best Speaker twice" or "Mentored 7 new members on debate team").

2. Use concise, vivid language. Trim filler words, and focus on what sets your activity apart. If others led discussion groups, but you led a debate on climate policy that made your club change its approach, mention the outcome.

A real example from a student: instead of the generic "Tutored peers in math after school," he wrote, “Launched after-school math clinic; tutored 15+ peers weekly, improving average test scores by 10%.” See how it emphasizes initiative and measurable impact?

Apply these tips to your Model UN and debate experiences by focusing on leadership, changes you made, or specific skills you demonstrated. For your quirky community service, don’t shy away from what’s different—own it, and show the problem you solved or joy you brought.

If you’re really stuck, write your descriptions out in full sentences first, then cut them down by removing articles (the, a, an) and flipping the order to begin with an action verb. Editing down is tough, but clarity and specificity are your best friends in the activities section.