When applying to college, admissions offices will tell you that one of the most important parts of your application is your high school transcript. They want to see how seriously you have taken your classes and whether they believe you’ll be a good fit for their institution academically. They also ask for letters of recommendation from your counselors and teachers to gain insight into how others view you. And they often request a personal essay so they can hear directly from you about your interests, insights, fears, dreams, and how you perceive yourself in the world.

But there’s another piece of the college application that can tell admissions officers a great deal about you: your activities list.

This part of the application should highlight the activities you have committed to during your high school years. Think of it as another opportunity to show colleges who you are beyond your grades and test scores. Admissions officers want to learn what matters to you, what you enjoy, how you spend your time, what you have accomplished, and how you interact with the world beyond the classroom.

School Groups

There are obvious activities to list on your college application: sports teams, clubs, theater productions, musical groups, and other school-related activities. But don’t assume an activity is only worth listing if you held a leadership position or starring role.

Were you the captain of the team? Great—include it. But if you spent afternoons riding the bench for lacrosse, colleges still want to know. Did you have a lead role in the school play? Wonderful. But if you were behind the scenes building sets, working the sound board, or helping with costumes, that experience belongs on your college applications, too.

Colleges want to see how you choose to spend your time and where you contribute. Your role doesn’t have to be the most visible one to be meaningful.

Non-School Groups

You are also more than your school identity. Think through other activities you participate in that aren’t school-sponsored. Are you an active member of a church, temple, mosque, or other faith community? Do you participate in Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts? Do you play in a community sports league? What other groups are you a part of? Think broadly about where you spend your time and what matters to you.

Employment

If you have spent some of your time in high school working at a job, whether during the academic year or the summer, definitely include that on your activities list. Mention the number of hours you worked per week, your title, your main responsibilities, and any leadership toles you assumed.

Family and Friend Commitments

Perhaps you spend a lot of time doing something that isn’t an official activity, with a designated uniform or meeting time, but it’s still an important part of your life. Consider your commitments to family, friends, and neighbors.

When you get home from school, do you have to watch your younger siblings while your parents are still at work? Do your grandparents live with you, and if so, do you help care for their needs? Do you have to babysit younger cousins on the weekend? Do you regularly drive an elderly neighbor to appointments? These responsibilities count, too. They demonstrate how you contribute to the people around you and can give admissions officers a fuller picture of your life outside the classroom.

Volunteering

And don’t forget about your volunteer efforts. Do you and your parents help out at a soup kitchen each week? Do you join in neighborhood cleanup events or help care for animals at a local shelter? Do you volunteer at your library, community center, or another organization? Whether you volunteer every week or contribute your time to occasional community projects, be sure to add these experiences to your activities list as well.

Other Interests

Finally, what interests do you dedicate time to simply because you enjoy them? Maybe you and your uncle are restoring an old car. Or perhaps you participate in music or poetry open mics as a creative outlet. Maybe you draw comic books, are learning to paint, or are teaching yourself to play the accordion. These interests may not fit neatly into a school activity or organized club, but they still tell colleges something about you.

Ultimately, your college application is an opportunity to showcase the many ways you spend your time and contribute to your community. Whether your activities happen at school, at home, through volunteer work, or as part of a personal passion, they help admissions officers understand who you are beyond your grades and test scores. Remember that you are more than your GPA. You are a person with unique interests, experiences, and strengths, and your activities list can help colleges see why you would be a great fit for their institution.