How does the advice from College Essay Guy about extracurricular activities help with applications?

The advice you’ve found about focusing on leadership, impact, and specificity in the activities section is definitely effective and lines up well with what admissions officers appreciate.

Colleges see thousands of applications where students simply list their resume: “President, Robotics Club; Volunteer, Hospital; Soccer Team, Captain.” But what truly catches their attention is when you go beyond the title. Instead, they want to know what you actually did, why it mattered, and the difference you made.

Let’s use your experience as president of the robotics club. Instead of just listing your role, here’s how to get specific and highlight impact: Did you organize a particular event, like a schoolwide competition or a fundraising drive for club equipment? Did you introduce a new mentorship program for middle schoolers, and if so, how did that affect the students involved? Sharing a brief result or metric (e.g., “Increased team participation by 20%” or “Mentored five students who later started their own teams”) makes your involvement clear and memorable.

When you’re filling out the activities section (especially on the Common App), you don’t need to write an essay for each activity. Use clear, direct language and concise examples that illustrate your role and the value you brought. The format doesn’t allow for more than a short paragraph or set number of characters, so be selective with details: prioritize the positions where you’ve shown the most growth, initiative, or unique impact. Two or three well-explained core activities can stand out more than a long list of superficial ones, but you should still list the rest of your substantial commitments—just with briefer descriptions.

Other tips to help your application stand out:
- Use strong action verbs ("led," "organized," "launched")
- Quantify whenever possible (hours spent, people impacted, dollars raised)
- Mention specific results or lasting change (started annual events, grew club membership)

For instance, you could write: "Organized and led weekly robotics workshops for middle schoolers, resulting in three new teams and a 30% increase in participation."

Think about moments you’re especially proud of, or times you solved a challenge or did something new. Even if you don’t have a huge list, a few genuine, detailed activities with concrete impact can make a strong impression. In your case, lead with your presidency and mentoring, then briefly describe a couple of other meaningful commitments. That way, you show both depth and breadth without sacrificing clarity or impact.