Expand your activities list story
Paste one activity bullet and get a complete 150-word narrative showing your impact and growth.
Expand your activities list story
River's Activities List Story Expander transforms short activity descriptions into full 150-word narratives for your Common App activities section. You paste a brief bullet point about what you did, then answer questions about impact, challenges, and growth. The AI weaves these elements into a compelling story that shows admissions officers exactly what you accomplished and why it mattered. You get a complete 150-word entry ready to paste into your application.
Unlike generic descriptions that just list responsibilities, this tool emphasizes specific impact and genuine reflection. The AI structures your story to show what you did, what results you achieved, what obstacles you overcame, and what you learned. Admissions officers can see beyond titles and understand your actual contributions. The result demonstrates initiative, problem-solving, and growth rather than just participation.
This tool is perfect for high school seniors filling out Common App activities sections where you can provide additional 150-word descriptions for your most meaningful activities. Use it when you have accomplished something significant but struggle to fit the full story into the word limit. It works best for activities where you made tangible impact or learned important lessons. The more specific your answers about results and growth, the stronger your narrative will be.
What Makes Strong Activities Descriptions
Strong activity descriptions focus on what you did and what changed because of your efforts. Weak descriptions list responsibilities or titles without showing actual impact. Instead of saying you were president of a club, explain what you accomplished as president. Did you increase membership? Start a new program? Solve a persistent problem? Admissions officers want evidence of initiative and results. Numbers help. Growing readership from 50 to 500 is more compelling than saying you increased readership a lot.
The best activity narratives follow a clear pattern. Start with what you did or what problem you tackled. Show the specific actions you took and any obstacles you overcame. Explain the concrete results or impact. End with what you learned or how you grew. This structure demonstrates competence, resilience, and self-awareness. Avoid spending all 150 words on background or setup. Get to your actions and impact quickly. Admissions officers read thousands of these, so clarity and specificity matter.
To write an effective description, think about the story you want to tell. What moment best shows your contribution? What result are you most proud of? What challenge revealed your character? Choose one specific angle rather than trying to cover everything you did. Use concrete details and active verbs. Quantify impact when possible. Show growth without generic statements about leadership or teamwork. The goal is helping readers see exactly what you accomplished and understand why this activity mattered to your development.
What You Get
Complete 150-word activity narrative structured for maximum impact
Clear emphasis on specific accomplishments and measurable results
Concrete examples showing initiative and problem-solving
Genuine reflection on skills developed and lessons learned
Active voice and strong verbs demonstrating your contributions
How It Works
- 1Paste activity bulletEnter your short description and answer questions about impact, challenges, and growth
- 2AI expands your storyGet a complete 150-word narrative showing your contributions and development in 2-3 minutes
- 3Verify and personalizeConfirm all details are accurate and adjust language to match your voice
- 4Paste into Common AppCopy the final 150-word description into your activities section
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this for all 10 Common App activities?
You can, but Common App only allows 150-word descriptions for your three most meaningful activities. The other seven activities get brief 50-character descriptions only. Use this tool for the three activities where you want to tell a fuller story about your impact and growth. Choose activities that best demonstrate your character, initiative, or development. These should be experiences where you made significant contributions or learned important lessons.
What if my activity does not have impressive numbers or awards?
Impact does not require big numbers or recognition. You can write a strong description about personal growth, skills developed, or small but meaningful changes you created. Maybe you did not win competitions but you helped younger students build confidence. Maybe you did not lead a huge organization but you solved a persistent problem. Focus on what you actually accomplished and what it taught you. Authenticity and reflection matter more than impressive metrics.
Should I mention my role or title in the 150-word description?
Common App activities section has separate fields for position and organization name, so you do not need to spend words restating that information in your 150-word description. Jump straight into what you did and what impact you had. Readers already see your title. Use your 150 words to show what you accomplished in that role and what it meant for your development. Focus on actions, results, and growth rather than background information.
How specific should my answers be for the AI to work well?
Very specific. Include concrete numbers, names of programs you created, descriptions of problems you solved, and exact skills you developed. Instead of saying you helped your team, explain how. Instead of saying you learned leadership, describe what specific capability you gained. The AI can only work with details you provide. Vague answers produce vague descriptions. Specific answers about real accomplishments produce compelling narratives that stand out.
Can I go over 150 words if my story needs more space?
No. Common App has a strict 150-word limit for activity descriptions. The system cuts off anything beyond that. Part of the challenge is choosing which details matter most and communicating impact concisely. If the draft is too long, cut less essential information and keep the most compelling evidence of your contributions and growth. Learning to communicate clearly within constraints is valuable practice for college writing.
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