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CarolynLawrence
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Posted: Sun Sep 3rd, 2006 10:49 pm |
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I've received several questions from students and parents about student activity sheets, so I thought I'd just touch upon them briefly. Please feel free to give some other ideas that worked for your child!
I think it is a good idea for all students to put together an activity sheet or activity resume for themselves, even if they don't end up sending it to colleges. Some kids honestly do not have a clear sense of all that they have accomplished outside of the classroom until they see it all described on paper. The benefits of going through the process include: being more organized when you sit down to fill out applications, being better prepared to answer questions during college interviews, and providing a useful tool to help guidance counselors and teachers when they write recommendations. Sometimes, putting together the activity sheet also helps jog some ideas for essay topics. However, they are NOT absolutely necessary and no one should feel forced to produce one if they really don't want to!
Just as with writing an essay, it's a good idea to start by thinking a bit about what you want an admissions committee to know about you that is NOT going to be readily apparent just from reading the application and your essays. What pieces will be missing? What are your key strengths that you want to give a little more detail about? What are the MOST important ways you have spent your time (Do not list every single thing you have done since kindergarten! As with essays, less is more if you pick the right details!)
I personally like activity sheets that group major activities together so that a sense of the whole person emerges. In other words, instead of listing activities grade-by-grade or by individual activity, combine related activities under headings such as "community service," "creative endeavors" or "leadership" depending, again, on what you think needs to be emphasized or is important about you. Use active verbs, and , whenever possible, mention specific accomplishments. Example: Instead of "Directed fund raising effort for the Rain Forest Coalition" say "Directed fund-raising effort for the Rain Forest Coalition that resulted in $5,000 in contributions."
The activity sheet should NOT list every single thing you've done. It should only list the major accomplishments or major time commitments that you want to draw attention to in more detail. This is also the place to include hobbies or activities that don't neatly fit into application categories, or that need a bit of explanation. You may also want to include education outside of the classroom that relates to a particular talent or skill. For example, my daughter had taken quite a few art classes at local museums and participated in an art related summer program. There was no real space in the applications to highlight this, yet it represented a significant time committment on her part. She also had a number of extracurriculars that had an art-related component that was not going to clear just from reading a list of clubs. Her activity sheet, however, allowed her to show just how much time she'd spent pursuing her art over the years because she could highlight all of the above.
Ideally, it should fit on one page, but two well done pages are fine (if you use two pages, consider printing it back and front when you send it). If you fit it on one page, you can sometimes include it in the "additional information" section on the Common Application as part of the body of your application. You can also attach it if you submit paper applications. Or, you can print it out and send it with a cover letter requesting it be included in your application package if you use online applications. (I'll talk about cover letters in another post sometime). Make sure your name, social security number, and address is included if you will be submitting it separately. (And, include all of the above on ALL pages if there are more than one).
Check the requirements of each school. Some do not accept activity sheets (although I still recommend putting one together for the above reasons.) You can also hand the activity sheet out when you do interviews as a way to get the conversation going. If used this way, you can also include a few brief highlights about your academic achievements for the interview ONLY. Don't send information to schools that they will get elsewhere on your application. Remember the final activity sheet should provide additional information that is not easily found elsewhere in your application!
Last edited on Sun Sep 3rd, 2006 10:52 pm by CarolynLawrence
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Thumper
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Posted: Mon Sep 4th, 2006 12:38 am |
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Carolyn, The only thing I would add is that it is good to start this activity sheet at the beginning of ninth grade. SO if anyone out there has a high school freshman...now is the time to start. It's not all that easy to remember what the kidlet did two or three years ago. We started a "resume" type of thing for DS, but that was because he was a musician and had multiple ensembles every year. He also needed a repertoire sheet of every orchestral piece he had played. Good thing I started that in ninth grade. For DD, and DS I simply created a WORD Document. Everytime they did something for the year, I added it to the list for that year...Like this
Ninth Grade
Chorus
Youth Wind Ensemble
Swim Team
HS Band
Jazz Band
Breast Cancer Fund Raiser
Tenth Grade
Choral Scholar
Youth Orchestra
Swim Team
Volunteer Tutor
You get the idea. I just added the information as it took place. When DD was at the end of her junior year, I had a nice sheet for her to give to her teachers for references. She used this for creating her student activity sheet for the guidance counselor.
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CarolynLawrence
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Posted: Mon Sep 4th, 2006 06:37 pm |
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| That is a very good suggestion Thumper. You are right, it is easy to forget things as time goes by.
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orchestramom
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Posted: Mon Sep 4th, 2006 06:38 pm |
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We've been doing both, as Thumper suggests: one for general activities, both school and extracurricular (including brief music highlights), since 9th grade. We also have a separate, more detailed, music resume, with repertoire (solo, orchestral and chamber), ensemble and orchestra experience, competitions, private instruction, master classes, summer programs, etc.
My D appreciates her organized Mom keeping track of the items and keeping the list updated (she's modest enough not to realize some of her activities are really great accomplishments, and it's SO hard to reconstruct things after time passes). It's totally up to her how to pick and choose which activities to emphasize when she's filling out applications and forms, writing brief bios, etc. But having the "inventory" to draw on is really useful.
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vocca
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Posted: Thu Sep 7th, 2006 05:47 pm |
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I had a question about activity sheets and the common app, so I thought I should check out Carolyn's blog or discussion board, and as has happened often before - sure enough, Carolyn, you've already addressed the issue!
My daughter has a two page activities list that she put together to give as background information to recommendation writers, possibly to give to interviewers, and to send to some colleges. But, as you suggested, Carolyn, on the Common App, it seems she could fit much of that list into the space for Additional Comments, although it would have to be presented differently than it's currently formatted. Some of the things on her activities list are already listed on the Common App in the boxes for Extracurriculars, Academic Honors, or Work Experience - but not all. So those would not need to be repeated. I could see why the colleges might be happier to see everything in the Common App documents. On the other hand, sending in her activities list on paper would maintain the formatting and make the picture that she paints less scattered - yet it would mean some of the information is repetitive. Any suggestions as to what makes most sense? Thanks, all.
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CarolynLawrence
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Posted: Thu Sep 7th, 2006 06:34 pm |
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Vocca,
The first thing to do is to check that each school accepts supplemental materials. Some do not. If they do, there is nothing wrong with sending the activity sheet separately, but be sure her social security number is on every page and that it does not repeat information that will already be in the application. Send it with a cover letter and add a few sentences in the cover letter expressing your enthusiasm for attending XYZ College.
The additional information section is a valuable space, so it should be used carefully. Some might decide to fit a brief description of their activities there. Some may want to check the school's supplements and, if no question is asked about why they're applying to this school, write a paragraph highlighting why they and the school are good fits for each other. Some might have extenuating circumstances that need to be explained in that space. So, I would look through the entire application and see what is missing about you that colleges need to know and make a decision for there.
As an aside, my daughter did put her activity highlights in the additional information section (it was less than a page and in bullet form) but she also sent a copy of the formatted activity sheet as well with a note saying she wanted to make sure the information was received, and then reiterating her enthusiasm for the school. I thought this was over-kill, but it didn't seem to be a major issue.
Keep in mind that many schools these days scan every document they receive into a computer file for each applicant so there probably isn't any need to futz around with fancy paper stock if you do send it separately.
But, the bottom line is there is no right or wrong way UNLESS the school doesn't accept supplements!
Last edited on Thu Sep 7th, 2006 06:36 pm by CarolynLawrence
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vocca
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Posted: Thu Sep 7th, 2006 09:35 pm |
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Thanks, Carolyn. Excellent advice!
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Lynda
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Posted: Fri Sep 8th, 2006 02:43 am |
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My sister's son is a freshman. I told her what I did because I am not always organized. We keep a file box with receipts, invoices, payments etc for tax purposes. The box had extra files so I just threw in the activities, programs, awards, report cards, clippings in a file by year. Ok, by the end of second year it was all in one file, I got lazy. It really helped when son made his activity/brag sheet. It also came in handy when he had to list music played. We had all forgotten lots of things.
I also told my sister about this site. I have to restrain myself, I was looking up the a-g requirements and found out a class was not on the list. I know she doesn't mind help, I just have to remember to myob.
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CarolynLawrence
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Posted: Fri Sep 8th, 2006 05:51 pm |
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Lynda,
LOL! Once you get in the college obsession mode, it's hard to myob. I have been known to stop strangers on the street to give them college advice. 
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mackinaw
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Posted: Sat Sep 9th, 2006 07:36 am |
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My son prepared a 2-page summary of major extracurricular awards and accomplishments that had four headings (debate, math, writing and journalism, other), and under each heading activities listed from most important to least important. Most important were awards/recognition he received in the each area. As Carolyn points out, the objective isn't to be exhaustive (if there's a whole lot) but rather to provide a summary that helps the reader easily see the most important accomplishments of the individual. My son's sheet didn't list community service because frankly there wasn't much of it; but he had won statewide awards in debate, math, and journalism. The "other" category included AP test scores and other test scores (at the time AP's weren't something that most applications provided space for).
One reason I don't favor chronological order is that some of the most important achievements may get buried that way. He didn't regard this activity sheet as simply a more elaborate version of the grid that most applications provided (with activity and hours per week listed by grade). He prefaced the list in each area with a sentence that told how much effort was devoted to the activity, e.g., "In my last three years in high school, debate has been my most important extracurricular activity. I've attended debate camp for several weeks during three summers (at University of Michigan and Michigan State University), and during debate season in the school year I devote approximately 25 hours per week to research, team practices, and tournaments." Then he listed major tournament achievements (placements and speaker awards), with the most prominent tournaments first. Similarly, under the journalism heading he prefaced a list of awards (e.g., for editorial writing) and roles (e.g., editorial page editor of school paper) by saying "Journalism has been the second most demanding on my time. During my last two years I've spent about 10 hours per week including writing a weekly editorial column and overseeing the content of the editorial page." Then he listed awards and roles.
In my daughter's case, she used the sheet to describe "extracurricular" activities that included not only awards, athletics, and community service, but also education and training/lessons: voice, instruments, dance, studio art. Most college application forms otherwise provided no space to list such committed activities, yet they can consume an enormous amount of a student's time over many years.
Last edited on Sat Sep 9th, 2006 03:27 pm by mackinaw
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CarolynLawrence
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Posted: Sat Sep 9th, 2006 10:44 pm |
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mackinaw wrote: He prefaced the list in each area with a sentence that told how much effort was devoted to the activity, e.g., "In my last three years in high school, debate has been my most important extracurricular activity. I've attended debate camp for several weeks during three summers (at University of Michigan and Michigan State University), and during debate season in the school year I devote approximately 25 hours per week to research, team practices, and tournaments." Then he listed major tournament achievements (placements and speaker awards), with the most prominent tournaments first. Similarly, under the journalism heading he prefaced a list of awards (e.g., for editorial writing) and roles (e.g., editorial page editor of school paper) by saying "Journalism has been the second most demanding on my time. During my last two years I've spent about 10 hours per week including writing a weekly editorial column and overseeing the content of the editorial page." Then he listed awards and roles.
In my daughter's case, she used the sheet to describe "extracurricular" activities that included not only awards, athletics, and community service, but also education and training/lessons: voice, instruments, dance, studio art. Most college application forms otherwise provided no space to list such committed activities, yet they can consume an enormous amount of a student's time over many years.
Mackinaw, I like the approach of a summary statement. And, like your daughter, my daughter found that the college application forms didn't allow her to include some of her most important out of school activities.
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WestrnMom
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Posted: Wed Sep 13th, 2006 11:07 pm |
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So, would you recommend sending in a separate activity sheet or not?
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mackinaw
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Posted: Thu Sep 14th, 2006 12:12 am |
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I would do it, especially if there are significant activities/awards, but only if (a) you don't go overboard with a 3-4 page summary loaded up with trivialities (it's meant to highlight achievements, not to be a diary), and (b) it is permitted by the college. On the latter point, some colleges don't want such supplements. Some permit or even encourage them (e.g., when they say that you can expand on what's on the application form). In any case, such a sheet is a supplement to what you put on the application form, not a substitute for it. So fill in those little grids with activity x hours by year of school (which allow no room to list awards or significant achievements, just raw hour-counting), but if you have something more significant to show, then show it on a supplement if it's permitted.
Last edited on Thu Sep 14th, 2006 12:27 am by mackinaw
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CarolynLawrence
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Posted: Thu Sep 14th, 2006 12:48 am |
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Mack, that was so well put that I am crowning you  for the day. You are a gem to have on this board.
Mack is absolutely 100% correct: Never send information separately that duplicates what is already going to be found in the application package. (This goes for supplemental recommendations as well). If it doesn't add something important, then don't send it.
Last edited on Thu Sep 14th, 2006 02:08 am by CarolynLawrence
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mackinaw
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Posted: Thu Sep 14th, 2006 12:52 am |
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Aw, gosh! Thanks.
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WestrnMom
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Posted: Thu Sep 14th, 2006 04:10 am |
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That would be why--because the application doesn't allow room for an entire resume, even though it might ask for a resume. There is room only for highlights.
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scoop
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Posted: Wed Nov 28th, 2007 11:26 am |
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| My daughter (junior) will be meeting with her guidance counselor next week. This is a "let's get to know you better" meeting. Personality wise, she has never clicked with this guy so I have encouraged her to bring along an activities list to help foster conversation. I knew this topic had been discussed and found these most helpful posts again. She has decided to group her activities into categories..most probably art related classes and activities, community service and awards/honors. If she is not listing these things chronologically, should she still put down when she participated? For example, she has been attending one Saturday morning class for the past 5 years. Would she list the years attended or just list the different classes? Same for volunteering/clubs etc. Thanks in advance. Last edited on Wed Nov 28th, 2007 11:31 am by scoop
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Chedva
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Posted: Wed Nov 28th, 2007 11:53 am |
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When my d did her activity sheet, she did it in categories (Dance, Teaching, Theater, etc.). Then within each category, she listed the activities in reverse chronological order based on the ending date, and did list the grades she was in while participating. For dance, she did add the years prior to high school so they could see the extent of her involvement (e.g., Tap, 3rd-12th, Ballet 7th-12th, Hip Hop 9th-10th). Summer programs were listed as "rising" whatever. She didn't bother saying how many classes she took on the activity sheet, because she listed on the grid "Dance" and the number of hours she danced per week.
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