This is the second part of our series on dealing with different sections of the Common Application, the online application system used by a large number of undergraduate universities in the United States. A few days ago we provided some tips about how to choose and describe activities and extracurricular involvement in The Common Application “Activities” section.
The next critical element in the Common Application is the Short Answer (part of the “Writing” section) which challenges you to elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. Here are some things to think about when you approach this important question:
Choosing your topic. Choose an experience that you are truly passionate about and dedicated a lot of time to, rather than something you feel the admissions committee is the most interested in. Writing about an experience you are very enthusiastic about will allow you to more easily convey your passion to the admissions committee.
Give a broad perspective. In view of the topic you selected for the Personal Essay, or the other school-specific essays you will need to write, choose a topic and use a writing style that gives the admissions committee a different perspective of you. For example, if your Personal Essay is about community service or volunteer experiences, consider choosing a Short Answer topic that could give a more professional perspective or something related to your ultimate career goals.
Explain “Why”. Many applicants will make the mistake of simply mentioning their responsibilities or basic involvement within the activity and organization. For the Short Answer, focus on explaining WHY this activity interests you. WHY are you passionate about it? WHY did you decide to dedicate a significant amount of time to this? WHY was the experience rewarding? The key is to describe how you personally feel about this activity.
Be concise. The Short Answer has a limit of 1,000 characters, which is about 150 words. Be careful because any words that exceed this limit will be cut off and the schools that you are applying to will not be able to read them. This tight character limit forces you to explain the key information in a very concise and straightforward way. Be sure not to waste any space!