How many activities should I have for UC?

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.

How many activities should I put on UC application?

Tip #1: Be sure to draft your list on a separate Word document or Google sheet vs. on the UC app's website. This gives you a chance to review, edit, and re-order your list before filling out the online application itself. Tip #2: You will have space for 20—yes, you read that right—20 activities and awards.

Is 7 extracurriculars enough?

The Goldilocks “just right” number of activities is 5 or 6. This is a good amount because it's achievable for most students without being overwhelming.

Does UC check your extracurricular activities?

Applicants are asked to provide original documentation to verify one item from the following sections on the UC application: academic history, honors and awards, extracurricular activities, volunteer work and community service, special program participation, employment or information contained in the personal insight ...

How many hours should my activities add up to?

During the summer, 40 hours is a solid amount of time to devote to extracurricular pursuits since students aren't concurrently attending school. It could be one activity that a student participates in for 40 hours per week. Or it could be a couple of activities that add up to 40 hours.

UC Activities and Essays Strategy

Is 1 extracurricular enough?

Colleges are looking for applicants who are deeply engaged in somewhere between one and a few activities. Often, commitment to these passions lead students to serve in leadership roles, win awards, or accomplish other notable achievements.

How many hours of activities per week?

Get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week. Or get at least 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week. You also can get an equal combination of moderate and vigorous activity. Aim to spread out this exercise over a few days or more in a week.

Do you need 20 activities for UC?

Why? Because the UC Activities List gives you 20 blanks for inputting your activities/awards (with 350 characters of space for describing each activity), while the Common App only gives you space for 10 activities (150 character descriptions) and 5 honors/awards. Note: Be sure to include: Hours per week/Weeks Per Year.

Can you get into UC without extracurriculars?

If you are unable to participate in extracurricular activities related to your major due to issues such as the need to work full-time to support yourself or your family, or hardships that restrict your ability or schedule, make sure you explain your situation in the UC Application and find other ways to show your ...

How many extracurriculars can I have for UC?

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.

What is considered weak extracurriculars?

The most common “weak” extracurricular profile is simply one that is nonexistent or bare bones. Admissions officers don't want couch potatoes; they want to accept students who will become involved in the learning community. A student with little or no extracurricular involvement is undesirable.

Is 2 extracurriculars enough?

Students want to display juxtapositional depth to colleges. They can do this by focusing on two or three extracurricular activities that they can fully commit to and succeed in, and that highlight their different attributes as a student.

What are Tier 1 extracurriculars?

Tier I: Tier I activities are extremely rare. They are reserved for the very best students in the country (or world) at what they do (e.g. All-American Athlete, Olympic Gymnast, National President of DECA, National Debate Champion, etc.)

What looks good on a UC application?

Special talents, achievements and awards in a particular field, such as visual and performing arts, communication or athletic endeavors; special skills, such as demonstrated written and oral proficiency in other languages; special interests, such as intensive study and exploration of other cultures; experiences that ...

Can I put babysitting on my UC application?

Extracurriculars that you include on your application should be an important part of how you spend your time; if you spend 10-15 hours babysitting each week, it will look really good on your application. Admissions officers will see that you maintained your grades while showing up to your babysitting commitments.

What are the easiest UC to get into?

UC Merced, with an acceptance rate of 87%, is the easiest UC school to get into. It's the UC system's newest campus, offering 25 majors and 18 graduate programs. Its three schools focus on engineering, natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and art.

What do UC schools not look at?

UCs do look at courses you take in freshman and senior years; the grades and rigor of your coursework are considered in context of your overall curriculum. But freshman and senior year grades are NOT included in the GPA calculation. UC-approved Honors, AP, IB and community college courses are weighted.

Is junior year too late for extracurriculars?

Students should start getting involved in extracurriculars as early as possible in their high school career. However, if you're a junior or a senior, don't be discouraged about trying something new or expanding your extracurriculars. At the end of the day, a year's worth of participation is better than none at all.

How many volunteer hours are recommended for UC?

You should aim to complete between 50 and 200 volunteer hours. If you complete more than 200 hours, you may very well be overworking yourself. If you complete fewer than 50 volunteer hours, college admissions officers may wonder if you are truly committed to the work and cause.

Should you put honor roll on UC application?

Many students with superb, even near-perfect GPAs ultimately submit their applications with a blank Honors section. Here's the good news—you can and should include making the honor roll at your high school in this area. If your school uses different nomenclature (i.e. Principal's List), then list that.

How many activities can I do per week?

do at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity a week or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity a week. spread exercise evenly over 4 to 5 days a week, or every day. reduce time spent sitting or lying down and break up long periods of not moving with some activity.

What is considered very active?

Very Active — You work a consistently physically demanding job, such as an agricultural worker, or you work a desk job and engage in intense exercise for 1 hour per day or moderate exercise for 2 hours per day, 5-7 times per week.

Do jobs count as extracurricular activities?

To answer your question, yes, having a job is considered an extracurricular activity when applying to colleges. In fact, it can be a valuable addition to your college applications since it demonstrates your ability to manage your time, take on responsibility, and contribute to your family or personal expenses.

Is 4 extracurriculars enough?

A good number of extracurriculars can be around four. Although every student is different, having four extracurriculars allows you to branch out without being overwhelmed. Having a good variety of hobbies outside of school is important.

Do you need 10 extracurriculars?

There is no right answer; it all depends truly on what you do with those activities! Be sure only to mention the activities you feel extremely passionate about, with the most important ones listed first. Then mention those in your essays and why they're significant for you.