Take full advantage of the UC application's activities section with this guide, offering insights on featuring diverse experiences, from volunteering to club participation.
The activities list is the part of the college application—either on the Common Application, Coalition Application or the UC system application—where you can list and describe your extracurricular activities. While the Common App allows you to list 10 activities, the UC Application provides you the opportunity to list 20 activities, so use this section of the application to show off the range of your interests. This list can include a wide array of activities, ranging from volunteering, clubs and organizations you are involved in, additional coursework or education preparation programs, and job experience. The activities list is an excellent opportunity to brag about your accomplishments, as well as the talents and skills that you have developed outside of the classroom along the way.
When compiling your application materials, plan to complete the UC Activities List first since it is a more comprehensive list. You can then tailor the list from 20 to the 10 most important activities in order to complete the Common Application.
Watch the two-minute video of the UC application overview with our senior mentor, Chloe, a University of California alum.
Yes! While your grades and standardized test scores make up the foundation of your college application, your activities will allow you to stand out amongst the sea of applicants and could tip an application in your favor. Thus, demonstrating a strong hook through your Activities List is very important. Additionally, college admissions officers will view your extracurricular involvement as a good indicator of how well you might function as a member of your future college community, and afterwards, how you might perform in the real world, since commitment to your activities will allow you to demonstrate time management skills, drive and commitment, and a genuine interest in the world around you.
While the Common Application Activities List and UC Activities List serve similar purposes for admissions committees, there are differences in the ways they are completed. The UC application allows students 20 spaces in total for both activities and awards, while the Common Application allows students to list 10 activities and 5 honors and awards separately.
✔️ 20 Activities, Honors and Awards
✔️ 10 Activities
✔️ 5 Honors and Awards
While the Common App requires you to tailor your list to include only 10 activities, the UC application has space to list up to 20 activities and awards. You may have combined similar activities and listed them as one activity, or eliminated certain activities for lack of space on the Common App, but, given the ten additional slots, the UC application allows you to list a greater breadth of your activities and interests. Take advantage of the additional space, thinking strategically about how the additional line items can allow you to better highlight your hook and demonstrate your range. Below, we’ve included an example UC activities list, paired with an explanation of how it demonstrates a hook!
When deciding the order in which you list your endeavors on your activities list, think about the ones you’re most proud of. The UC application stresses choosing the activities that demonstrate commitment, responsibility, leadership, and genuine interest. Your list should first highlight the activities that are of greatest importance to you, and therefore, ideally, demonstrate your hook. Show the admissions committee what your passions and actionable interests are through the order in which you choose to list your activities!
The UC application breaks down the activities list into six categories:
Award or honor Education preparation programs Extracurricular activity Other coursework Volunteering/community service Work experienceEach of these categories requires you to compile information in different fields. As you fill out each of these fields, keep in mind that all of the information included on your application is subject to verification. The UC system values honesty and integrity, so be forthright about your activities and the amount of time you have devoted to each.
This category includes any awards or honors you have received, especially those that are most important to you. The fields for this category are:
Name of the Award or Honor Level of Recognition Type of Award or Honor When did you receive it? What are the eligibility requirements for this award or honor? What did you do to achieve this award or honor
Field 1: Name of the Award or Honor
You will need to write the name of the honor or award (60 characters). Add the organization name if characters allow. For example, write Congressional Award Silver Medal not just Silver Medal.
Field 2: Level of Recognition
Choose the level of recognition, ranging from school all the way to international. As with the Common App, if you are unsure which level of recognition to select, you can often determine information about the scope of the award on the award organization’s affiliate website or by asking the individual who nominated you to receive the award or who let you know that you were selected to receive it.
Field 3: Type of Award or Honor
Select the type of honor or award.
Field 4: When did you receive it?
Select which grade in high school you received the award. If you received the award during the summer, select the grade you were in before the summer, so if you received it the summer after 10th grade, select 10th grade.
Field 5: What are the eligibility requirements for this award or honor?
Describe the eligibility requirements for receiving the award (max 250 characters). Did you have to apply for the award? How are the recipients selected and how many people are selected? Be sure to use language that is specific and that clearly aligns with the description used by the organization or committee that bestowed the award. As with the level of recognition, information regarding this category can often be found on a related website. Or, you can get in touch with the person who gave you the award or let you know you were chosen to receive it, and ask for contextualizing information!
Field 6: What did you do to achieve this award or honor?
Describe what you did to achieve the award or honor (max 350 characters).
How much time did you dedicate to winning the award? Were there multiple steps or competitions to win it? What did you do personally to win the award? Be sure to emphasize your personal responsibility in earning the honor or award!
Use active rather than passive verbs to emphasize your agency and initiative.
Selected to be a member of the Honor Council.
Successfully campaigned for election to the Honor Council by creating posters and giving campaign speeches. Ran against 16 candidates for 4 seats. My campaign emphasized establishing trust with fellow students and taking initiative to assist peers with their coursework through tutoring and mentoring programs.
This category encompasses any programs or activities that have enriched your academic learning or helped you prepare for college. Pre-college summer programs or courses taken at a nearby community college can be listed as part of this category. The fields for this category are:
What was the program name? Briefly describe the program. When did you participate in the program? How much time did you spend in the program?
Field 1: What was the program name?
Choose the program name from the dropdown menu. If yours is not listed, choose “other” and write in the program name. The UC application describes an education preparation program as “counseling, tutoring, research opportunities, or special study opportunities, such as study abroad.”
Field 2: Briefly describe the program.
Describe the program (max 350 characters). What did you learn and accomplish in the program? What were the program’s main goals and takeaways? What was the application process like? What was your experience like? You can reference the course or program’s website to add specific information about the course or learning objectives!
Use verbs that show action and ownership of an activity.
Worked with a professor on a research project.
Conducted university-level research.
Field 3: When did you participate in the program?
State when you participated in the program. Choose from 9th grade, 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, or after 12th grade. If you participated in the program over the summer, choose the grade you were in before the summer started. For example, if you attended a pre-college program the summer between 9th and 10th grade, you would select 9th.
Field 4: How much time did you spend in the program?
State how much time you spent in the program. This can be calculated the same way as the Common Application. Be realistic when calculating your hours and weeks: hours spent per week; weeks spent per year.
This includes any sports, hobbies, clubs, instruments, or other high school after school activities you have participated in. The fields for this category are:
What’s the name of the activity? What did you do? When did you participate in this activity? How much time did you spend on this activity?
Field 1: What’s the name of the activity?
Write the name of the activity (60 characters).
It is possible that the name of your activity takes up all of the allotted characters, but if it doesn’t, take advantage of the extra space to include other relevant information. When applicable, make sure to make clear whether the clubs or activities are in association with your school. A student newspaper at Average High School simply called “Hilltop” is better referred to as “Average High School Hilltop Student Newspaper Club” or “Hilltop Student Newspaper of Average High School.” If you’re including an independent activity such as painting for local arts competitions, your title and position could read: “Artist, Self-Directed Oil Painting.”
Take advantage of every character.
The Falcon, Average High School’s Student-Led Newspaper
Field 2: What did you do?
Explain what you did in that activity (max 350 characters). What was your experience-what did you do, learn, and accomplish? Did you hold a leadership role? Did you organize an event and how did you go about doing that? Similar to the Common App, provide specific details.
Avoid redundancy. If you say you were the Editor of your school paper in your title, you won’t need to repeat that in the description. Rather, describe your impact as an editor.
Edited the environmental column.
Proofread and fact-checked 30+ pieces about environmental issues annually. Helped staff writers brainstorm pieces about topics on the local environment, climate change, and conservation. Worked with Editor-on-Chief on layout and design.
Field 3: When did you participate in the activity?
State when you participated in the extracurricular activity. Choose from 9th grade, 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, or after 12th grade. If you participated in the program over the summer, choose the grade you were in before the summer started. For example, if you engaged in an activity or were a member of a club the summer between 9th and 10th grade, you would select 9th.
Field 4: How much time did you spend on this activity?
State how much time you spent engaging in this activity. This can be calculated the same way as it is calculated for the Common Application. Be realistic when calculating your hours and weeks: hours spent per week; weeks spent per year.
This category reflects courses you have taken that are not required for UC admission. These courses do not fall into the UC A-G subject requirements. These include leadership and career courses or courses taken on websites such as Coursera. The fields for this category are:
What was the course name? Briefly describe the course. When did you take this course? How much time did you spend in class?
Field 1: What was the course name?
Write the name of the course (60 characters). If a subtitle is included which provides more context, be sure to include it.
Include course number and subtitles if characters allow.
College History 201: Middle Ages through the Renaissance
Field 2: Briefly describe the course.
Describe the course (max 350 characters). Where did you take the course? What school or program offered it? What topics did you cover? What knowledge or skills did you learn? The course syllabus is a helpful document to reference. Try to use language that is precise, academic, and aligns closely with the objectives, subject matter, and deliverables as they are listed in the official course description and syllabus.
Highlight clear deliverables and skills that you acquired as a part of the course.
Completed a research paper.
The course familiarized me with primary-source research methodologies, which I used in the completion of a 15-page culminating research project on the development of iconographic traditional forms in woodcuts, illuminated manuscripts, and religious altarpieces.
Field 3: When did you take this course?
State when you participated in the course. Choose from 9th grade, 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, or after 12th grade. If you participated in the course over the summer, choose the grade you were in before the summer started. For example, if you took a community college class the summer between 9th and 10th grade, you would select 9th.
Field 4: How much time did you spend in class?
State how much time you spent in class. This can usually be found on the syllabus or in the course description as well.
This category includes volunteering clubs or organizations you are part of outside of school. Here, you should list any activity you’ve donated time and effort to without getting paid, including unpaid internships. The fields for this category are:
What was the name of the organization, program, school, or group you volunteered for? Please describe the organization, program, school, or group. What did you do? When did you volunteer? How much time did you spend?
Field 1: What was the name of the organization, program, school, or group you volunteered for?
Write the name of the organization, program, school, or group you volunteered for (60 characters).
Field 2: Please describe the organization, program, school, or group.
Describe the organization, program, school, or group (max 250 characters). What kind of work does the organization do? What is the reason it exists? What community or population does it serve? What is its mission statement? If you are unsure of how to accurately answer these questions, refer to the organization website for more precise language.
Add quantifying details to demonstrate impact.
Local Food Pantry serves the community by providing food and meals.
Local Food Pantry serves 2,000+ community members per month through providing daily meal services and grocery boxes. LFP runs fitness & cooking classes, rents portable shower trucks for the homeless population, and manages 100+ volunteers.
Field 3: What did you do?
Describe what you specifically did in that organization (max 350 characters). What was your experience and what did you learn and accomplish while volunteering? What were your contributions, responsibilities, and impact? Similar to writing the Common App descriptions, provide specific details. If you held a leadership role or moved up in the organization to manage teams or volunteers, it is important to highlight that achievement here.
Emphasize YOUR personal responsibilities.
Help twice per week.
Lead cooking classes once a week for elementary and middle school-aged students. Sort groceries into weekly donation boxes. Help prepare meals with a team of six other volunteers and serve biweekly in 4-hour shifts. Responsible for set-up and clean up.
Field 4: When did you volunteer?
State when you participated in the extracurricular activity. Choose from 9th grade, 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, or after 12th grade. If you participated in the program over the summer, choose the grade you were in before the summer started.
Field 5: How much time did you spend?
State how much time you spent engaging in this activity. This can be calculated the same way as the Common Application. Be realistic when calculating your hours and weeks: hours spent per week; weeks spent per year.
This category includes any paid jobs or paid internships you have had. The fields for this category are:
Where did you work? Please briefly describe the company or organization where you worked. What was your job title? What were your job responsibilities? When did you work at this job? Do you still work at this job?
Field 1: Where did you work?
Write the name of the place you worked for (60 characters). If characters allow, you can include the town/city/location name.
Field 2: Please briefly describe the company or organization where you worked.
Describe the company or organization you worked at (max 250 characters). This is a field unique to the UC Application which does not appear on the Common App. This section offers you an opportunity to further emphasize the significance of your work experience as it relates to your career goals by elaborating on the organization where you worked. What industry is it in? What is the size of the company or organization? What is its main focus, purpose, and goals?
If the company bears a particular significance to your community, the industry, or to your area of interest, be sure to highlight that here.
Worked at a bakery and learned customer service.
Worked alongside three other bakers every shift and learned bread-baking techniques. Washed dishes, cleaned kitchen, and worked at the register interacting with over three dozen customers per day.
Field 3: What was your job title?
Write your job title—be specific (60 characters)! If appropriate, add the group or division for which you worked. For example, Research Intern rather than Intern.
Field 4: What were your job responsibilities?
Describe your job responsibilities (max 350 characters). What were your specific roles and responsibilities, and how did you make an impact during your time at your job? What was your job description? What tasks did you complete day to day? Did you have a managerial role? Did anyone report to you? What skills did you learn?
Be sure to highlight the specific skills you developed throughout your time working for the organization.
Worked at a bakery and learned customer service.
Worked alongside three other bakers every shift and learned bread-baking techniques. Washed dishes, cleaned kitchen, and worked at the register interacting with over three dozen customers per day.
Field 5: When did you work at this job?
State when you worked this job. Choose from 9th grade, 10th grade, 11th grade, 12th grade, or after 12th grade. If you worked over the summer, choose the grade you were in before the summer started.
Field 6: Do you still work at this job?
Answer if you still work at that job. If the answer is no, list the start and end dates by month and year. If the answer is yes, list just the start date by month and year.
Here are two examples of what an extracurricular activity can look like once you have filled out all of the fields.
As Secretary General, I led the team in conferences and won awards representing the school. I also helped to lead the group in fundraising for charity and increasing our competition schedule.
10th grade
11th grade
12th grade
3.0 hours per week
36.0 weeks per year
Model United Nations
As Secretary General, I organized committees and led the team to over 15 conferences within two years. I was the recipient of awards at 90% of the conferences attended, including Outstanding Delegate and Best Delegate awards. Additionally, the club as a whole won an award of distinction for our research and preparation at NHSMUN. I also spearheaded fundraising initiatives that raised over $7,000 for the American Red Cross during my senior year.
10th grade
11th grade
12th grade
3.0 hours per week
36.0 weeks per year
Below, you’ll find an Example UC Application Activities List! This fictional student’s hook is primarily in environmental science and art. Her activities list conveys her hook through her clubs and extracurriculars, community involvement and honors and awards. She has also found creative intersections between her interests in science and art through painting murals at local gardens, featuring and selling her nature photography on her personal social media, and studying environmental art at a summer program.
Through this highly descriptive and well-crafted Activities List, admissions officers can understand where this student’s priorities lie, and how she takes advantage of the many opportunities at her disposal in NYC. This student makes it evident that she is creatively-minded, self-driven, capable of leading groups and teams, and interested in community-building. Lastly, she has shown her ability to rise to the demands of a rigorous university-level academic program through her involvement in an education preparation program at a state university and coursework in biology at the local community college.
Students’ selections for their intended majors should align with their hook and Activities List— the admissions committee will look for demonstrated interest in the discipline you intend to study. In this case, this Activities List would best complement an intended double-major in Environmental Science and Studio Art. Because this student also has an entrepreneurial streak, she could optionally indicate a secondary interest in business if a school offers dual degrees, majors, or minors in business administration for undergraduates. It is helpful to be aware that consistency across every part of the application, from coursework and letters of recommendation to the Activities List, intended majors, and essays, is necessary for building a cohesive narrative.
