Activities List
The activities list gives graduate admissions or fellowship committees a clearer picture of your achievements, honors, personal interests, leadership experiences, community service, and publications. In general, it should include your activities and honors during college. However, if certain high-school activities or honors help demonstrate a long-standing interest in the kind of activity you are now proposing or a long-standing record of achievement in a field, it may also be to your advantage to include that information.
Tailor your entries according to the goals and characteristics of the particular fellowship. For a strictly academic, Ph.D. fellowship, you might not list your leadership role on a fraternity’s social-activities committee. For a fellowship that highly values leadership abilities, you would list such a role.
Helpful Tips
Do not attempt to cite every activity in which you have ever taken part. Instead focus on providing information about your most central commitments and achievements. Use your personal statement to expand on the one or two most significant activities or the ones in which you made the greatest impact.
As you compose your entries, assume readers are unfamiliar with the organizations in which you were involved. Briefly explain each organization's purpose (if not clear from the name) and clearly describe your role, accomplishments, and any honors received. Create a favorable impression by keeping your activities list organized, concise, and easy to read.
Additional Advice:
- Group activities under clear category headings (e.g., Academic Honors and Awards, Athletics, Work Experience, and Leadership Activities)
- List activities in either in reverse chronological order or by order of importance to you. Order is assumed by the reader, so be intentional.
- Highlight major activities by giving more space to these significant activities and providing the reader with a visual clue to their importance.
- Explain awards, programs, or experiences and awards unique to WPI. Don't assume readers are familiar with them.
- Avoid use of abbreviations or acronyms (e.g., never say "IQP" or "SocComm," but "WPI" is fine).
- Exclude minor or one-time activities as these may appear trivial.
- Include your most significant work positions, such as paid jobs, unpaid internships, assistantships, or specialist volunteer roles.
- Don't overstate activities and avoid exaggeration.
- Mention athletics only if it is a substantial commitment. Otherwise, don't talk about exercise and physical fitness.
- Neatness counts! Type carefully and align intentionally.
Remember: The personal statement, activities list, and letters of recommendation all work together in a complementary fashion to present a comprehensive portrait of who you are.