Destination USA: Activity list in application form and its importance
We continue the special column series on US higher education and discuss today about a common question that we receive from our students related to undergraduate (bachelor’s degree) applications – what is the “activity list” and how should it be included in the application form? Given the wholistic review of student’s profile for the admission […]
We continue the special column series on US higher education and discuss today about a common question that we receive from our students related to undergraduate (bachelor’s degree) applications – what is the “activity list” and how should it be included in the application form?
Given the wholistic review of student’s profile for the admission process, the activity list/resumé constitutes a key component of the undergraduate or bachelor’s degree application. The experiences reflected through this component of the application help US admissions officers to understand the student as an individual and how the student would fit into the overall community at the college or university.
Admissions officers look for experiences that are meaningful, demonstrate the passion the student has towards the activity, and how it contributed to the growth and development of the student.
So, in addition to the academic profile, standardised and English proficiency test scores, letters of recommendation, and personal statement/essays, the admissions officer use the resumé/list of activities submitted by the student for undergraduate applications to assess their non-academic qualifications. Such non-academic qualifications include components such as special talents, leadership potential, involvement in extra-curricular activities, and/or engagement with the community.
The application form for undergraduate applications generally has a section to list activities. Some university applications restrict the number of activities that a student may list. For example, CommonApp has a space to list up to 10 activities and the University of California application system has up to five. Other universities allow students to submit a longer list of activities. The type of activities may include athletics, internships, art or theatre, social work, workshops, etc.
Students should put the most noteworthy activities from their profile in the application form. It is commonly asked by parents/students how should they make this selection?
EducationUSA advises students to make the selection either based on what activities they have excelled in (received an award/ rank/ certification) or the duration of time for which they were involved in an activity (something they have been doing continually). Students should also try to list activities in a few different areas to showcase the diversity of their profile and interests. US institutions do not necessarily require students to have a certificate for the activity that they are listing in the application.
In addition to the list of activities in the application form, some universities also allow students to submit a resumé. Students may create their resumé using one of the existing templates available widely or create one with their own outline, formatting, and style. Once the resumé document has been prepared, it may be attached or uploaded as a Word or PDF file with the online application form. Few other universities may ask for a hard copy of the resumé.
While filling the activities section and building their resumé, students should remember that the volume and number of activities or certificates are not as highly valued in the application review process as a deep connection and commitment to one or few activities outside of the classroom.
— Monika Setia (Regional Officer and EducationUSA Adviser at the United States-India Educational Foundation based at the U.S. Consulate General Hyderabad. Please visit https://educationusa.state.gov/centers/educationusa-usief-hyderabad for more information)
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Q&A:
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Q. I am currently pursuing my dentistry degree in India and am interested in applying for public health programmes. What types of degrees are available in the field in the United States?
— Srikanth
A. In the field of public health, the options for graduate programmes in the United States include Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH), Master of Science in a specialization (eg MS in Biostatistics), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Public Health (Dr.PH.), and certificate programmes.
The MS and Ph.D. degrees are focused on research and designed for students interested in a research career in the field of public health. On the other hand, MPH and Dr.PH. programmes are designed for students with an interest in professional career in the field. Students from different disciplines and professional backgrounds may pursue a public health degree in the United States.
Q. My daughter just received admission in undergraduate programme at a US institution for Fall 2022. We are curious to understand how should she select her coursework when she starts the programme?
— Ramani
A. There are certain required subjects and credits all students must take when studying for a degree in the United States. Also, there are required core subjects your daughter will be expected to take to complete her major.
She will have the opportunity to also choose a list of electives. Degree programmes in some subject areas are highly structured, and universities dictate exactly which courses a student must take and when they must take them in order to graduate with a major in that field of studies.
It is important to check the requirements of any major your daughter may wish to pursue. There is also great variation between course requirements at liberal arts colleges. Some colleges require students to take a certain number of classes in each of the broad subject groups, while other liberal arts colleges have no such requirements, merely making a ‘strong recommendation’ that students complete a well-rounded education.
Finally, international students must take a minimum number of credits to remain registered as “full time” students in accordance with F1 visa guidance. Verify and understand the specific information with the US institution your daughter plans to attend.
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