Fill the dump, then place up to 10 names in slot order. Why order matters, and what to do with fewer than 10, live in how to build a strong activities list. Hours, role titles, and the 150-character line are a sibling sheet. Do not pad empty slots. Six strong entries beat ten with filler.
Dump everything (do not edit yet)
Write names only. Include jobs, family responsibilities, independent projects, and practice time. Those are easy to forget and they explain how you actually spent your weeks.
- Clubs, sports, arts, and competitionsNamed teams and orgs, not every membership.
- Paid or informal jobsBabysitting, lawn care, tutoring neighbors, family business.
- Family responsibilitiesCaretaking, translation, household management, contributing income.
- Community service with an ongoing roleSkip one-off events unless you owned them.
- Independent projectsApps, channels with real viewers, research, a business, published writing.
- Summer programs and academic enrichmentOnly if you can name what you produced.
- Religious or community involvementRegular, sustained participation counts.
- Serious skill practiceInstrument, sport, or craft hours that are real even without a formal ensemble.
Assign slots 1 through 10
Readers weight the first few entries most. Lead with the commitment that took the most time and produced the clearest outcome, not the most impressive-sounding title. National Honor Society membership is almost never slot 1.
| Slot | What this slot is for | Activity name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary narrative anchor: highest commitment, highest impact | |
| 2 | Second anchor, or a genuinely different strength | |
| 3 | Supporting activity with real time and a describable outcome | |
| 4 | Supporting activity with real time and a describable outcome | |
| 5 | Supporting activity with real time and a describable outcome | |
| 6 | Additional contribution: genuine participation, less leadership | |
| 7 | Additional contribution (NHS or Key Club belong here unless you led with outcomes) | |
| 8 | Additional contribution | |
| 9 | Context: job, family responsibility, or how you actually spent time | |
| 10 | Context: job, family responsibility, or how you actually spent time |
Before you stop
- Slots I actually filled (leave blank if fewer than 10):
Next, put hours and a 150-character line on the hours and description sheet. For help choosing which commitments to keep going forward, explore early planning services.