Activities & Awards

Extracurricular Activities

• Diverse Involvement:

  • Clubs and Organizations: List the clubs and organizations you’ve been a part of during high school, such as student government, academic clubs (like debate, Model UN, or robotics), cultural or language clubs, and special interest groups (like environmental or social justice clubs). For each activity, describe your role, the duration of your involvement, and any leadership positions or special projects you undertook. Highlight any achievements, such as organizing events, starting new initiatives, or contributing to the growth of the club.

  • Arts and Sports: If you participated in arts (such as band, choir, theater, or visual arts) or athletics (such as school sports teams, martial arts, or dance), describe your level of involvement, accomplishments, and any leadership roles. For example, if you were a lead actor in a school play, discuss the production process, your preparation, and the impact of your performance. Similarly, if you were a team captain, highlight how you motivated your teammates, strategized for games, and balanced sports with academics.

  • Unique Hobbies and Interests: Include any unique hobbies or personal projects that don’t fit into traditional categories but are important to you. This could be anything from coding a new app, writing a blog, participating in esports, or restoring vintage cars. These activities can help you stand out as a well-rounded and passionate individual with diverse interests.

• Depth of Commitment:

  • Sustained Involvement: While a variety of activities is valuable, depth of commitment in a few key areas can be even more impactful. Admissions officers appreciate seeing long-term dedication, especially when it leads to leadership roles or significant accomplishments. For example, if you’ve been part of the same club or team for several years and have gradually taken on more responsibilities, make sure to highlight this progression.

  • Impact and Contribution: Focus on the impact you made in your extracurricular activities. Whether it’s helping to grow the membership of a club, mentoring younger students, or leading a successful fundraising campaign, admissions officers want to see that your involvement had a positive effect on others.

Work Experience

• Types of Work:

  • Part-Time and Full-Time Jobs: If you’ve held any part-time or full-time jobs during high school, list them here. This includes summer jobs, internships, or any ongoing work you did during the school year. Describe your role, responsibilities, and the skills you developed. For example, if you worked as a barista, discuss how you managed customer service, handled transactions, and worked under pressure.

  • Internships and Apprenticeships: If you’ve completed any internships or apprenticeships, particularly in fields related to your intended major or career goals, highlight these experiences. Describe the work you did, what you learned, and how the experience influenced your academic and career aspirations. For instance, if you interned at a tech company, you could discuss how you gained hands-on experience in coding or project management.

• Balancing Work and School:

  • Time Management: Discuss how you balanced your work commitments with your academic responsibilities. Working during high school demonstrates strong time management skills and a level of maturity that can set you apart from other applicants. For example, if you worked 20 hours a week while maintaining a high GPA, be sure to mention how you managed your time effectively.

  • Learning and Growth: Reflect on what you learned from your work experiences, whether it’s practical skills, a strong work ethic, or insights into a particular industry. If your work experience influenced your choice of major or career path, make that connection clear in your application.

Awards & Honors

• Academic Awards:

  • School and National Recognition: List any academic awards you’ve received, such as honor roll, National Merit Scholar, AP Scholar, or specific subject awards. Explain the significance of each award, especially if it’s not widely recognized. For example, if you won a science competition, describe the project you worked on and what the award represents.

  • Scholarships and Grants: If you’ve received any merit-based scholarships or academic grants during high school, mention these here. These awards reflect your academic achievements and can be an important part of your overall application.

• Non-Academic Awards:

  • Arts, Sports, and Community Recognition: Include awards related to arts, sports, or community service, such as music or art competition wins, sports trophies, or community leadership awards. These honors demonstrate your talents, dedication, and contributions outside the classroom.

  • Leadership and Service Awards: If you’ve received any awards for leadership or service, such as a community service award, a leadership certificate from a school or organization, or recognition from a local government or nonprofit, highlight these achievements. These awards show your ability to lead, serve, and make a positive impact.

Volunteer and Community Service

• Service to the Community:

  • Types of Service: List the volunteer work and community service activities you’ve been involved in, whether it’s through a nonprofit organization, school, religious group, or community center. Describe your role, the duration of your service, and the impact you made. For instance, if you volunteered at a food bank, mention how you helped distribute food to families in need, organized donation drives, or assisted in other key operations.

  • Leadership in Service: If you took on a leadership role in your volunteer work, such as organizing events, leading a team of volunteers, or starting a new service project, make sure to highlight these experiences. Leadership in community service demonstrates initiative, responsibility, and a commitment to making a difference.

• Impact and Reflection:

  • Personal Growth: Reflect on how your volunteer experiences have shaped your values, personal growth, and future goals. Discuss any challenges you faced and how you overcame them, what you learned about yourself, and how the experience has influenced your aspirations. For example, if volunteering at a senior center taught you the importance of empathy and patience, explain how this experience has inspired you to pursue a career in healthcare or social work.

  • Skills and Learning: Highlight the skills you developed through your volunteer work, such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and cultural awareness. These skills are not only valuable in college but are also essential for your future career and life in general. If your service work is related to your intended major, draw those connections clearly.

• Recognition and Continued Service:

  • Service Awards: If you’ve received any awards for your community service, such as a Presidential Volunteer Service Award or recognition from a local organization, include these in this section. These awards validate your contributions and dedication to serving others.

  • Future Service Plans: Express your intention to continue your volunteer work in college. Mention specific UC programs or clubs that align with your interests and how you plan to get involved. Discuss any ideas you have for expanding your impact through service at the college level.

Work Earnings Question

• Overview:

  • Purpose: The work earnings question asks you to report the total amount of money you earned from your work experiences during high school. This includes any part-time or full-time jobs, internships, freelance work, or other paid positions you’ve held. The UC system wants to understand not only your work history but also how your earnings have contributed to your financial situation.

• Why It Matters:

  • Demonstrating Responsibility: Reporting your work earnings shows that you’ve taken on financial responsibilities at a young age. This can be particularly important if your earnings were used to support yourself, contribute to your family’s income, or save for college expenses. It demonstrates your ability to manage time effectively, work hard, and prioritize your commitments.

  • Financial Context: The UC system considers your financial background as part of the holistic review process. By sharing your work earnings, you provide additional context that can help admissions officers understand the financial challenges you may have faced and how you've worked to overcome them. This can be especially important if you’ve had to balance significant work hours with your academic and extracurricular pursuits.