Common App Activity Types All 30 With Examples
Pick the one type that best describes what you did.
You can only choose one type per activity, and no type counts more than another. If an activity fits two, pick the one closest to what you spent most of your time doing, then use the description to show the rest.
Common App updated the wording of some activity types for 2026-27. This list uses the long-standing names, and we show the newer name where several application guides agree on it. If your dropdown words a type differently, pick the option that matches it in meaning.
Where common activities go
DECA
Usually Career readiness or practicums (Career Oriented on older lists). Academic is also fine.
HOSA
Usually Career readiness or practicums (Career Oriented on older lists). Academic is also fine.
Student council
Student Govt./Politics (Student government or politics in newer wording).
National Honor Society (NHS)
Usually Community Service (Volunteer), since NHS is mostly service. If you list it as an honor instead, don't list it twice.
Internship
Internship. It has its own type. Use Career readiness or practicums for job shadowing or career programs that aren't internships.
Key Club
Community Service (Volunteer).
All 30 Common App activity types
Each type with what it covers and activities students usually put there. Some activities fit two types, so these say usually. Pick the closest one.
| Activity type | What it covers | Common examples |
|---|---|---|
| Academic | Clubs, teams and programs built around a school subject or academic competition. | Quiz Bowl, Academic Decathlon, Model UN, Mock Trial, Summer academic program |
| Art | Visual art you make, in or out of school. | Art club, Painting or drawing portfolio, Photography, Ceramics, Graphic design |
| Athletics: Club | Sports outside your school's teams, like club, travel or rec leagues. | Club soccer, Travel volleyball, USA Swimming team, Martial arts, Rec league basketball |
| Athletics: JV/Varsity | Your high school's JV or varsity teams. | Varsity football, JV basketball, Cross country, Varsity tennis, Track and field |
| Career OrientedRenamed for 2026-27 to Career readiness or practicums | Programs and clubs that build skills for a specific career, other than a paid job or internship. | DECA, HOSA, FBLA, Job shadowing, Career or technical certification |
| Community Service (Volunteer)Renamed for 2026-27 to Community service or volunteer work | Unpaid service that helps other people or your community. | Key Club, Food bank volunteer, Hospital volunteer, Habitat for Humanity, Tutoring younger students |
| Computer/Technology | Coding, building software or hardware, and tech clubs. | Coding club, App or website you built, Hackathons, Cybersecurity team, Girls Who Code |
| Cultural | Groups and activities that celebrate or share a culture or heritage. | Asian Student Association, Black Student Union, Latino club, Cultural dance troupe, Heritage language school |
| Dance | Dance training, companies and teams. | Ballet studio, Dance company, Competitive dance team, Hip-hop crew, Folk dance group |
| Debate/SpeechRenamed for 2026-27 to Debate or speech | Competitive debate, speech and public speaking. | Speech and debate team, Policy debate, Lincoln-Douglas debate, Forensics, Toastmasters Youth |
| Environmental | Work to protect the environment or study it outside class. | Environmental club, Recycling program, Envirothon, Community garden, Climate advocacy group |
| Family Responsibilities | Regular duties at home that take real time, like caring for family. | Caring for siblings, Caring for a grandparent, Translating for family, Household chores while parents work |
| Foreign Exchange | Studying or living abroad through an exchange program. | Semester abroad, Rotary Youth Exchange, Hosting an exchange student, Summer exchange program |
| Foreign Language | Learning or using a language outside required classes. | Spanish club, French honor society, Language immersion program, Weekend language school |
| Internship | Internships, paid or unpaid, at a company, lab, office or nonprofit. | Law firm internship, Hospital internship, Congressional office internship, Startup internship |
| Journalism/PublicationRenamed for 2026-27 to Journalism or publishing | Writing, editing or producing for a publication. | School newspaper, Literary magazine, Yearbook editor, Student podcast, Personal blog with readers |
| Junior R.O.T.C. | JROTC and other military training programs. | Army JROTC, Navy JROTC, Air Force JROTC, Civil Air Patrol, Young Marines |
| LGBT | LGBTQ+ groups, support and advocacy. | GSA (Gender and Sexualities Alliance), Pride club, LGBTQ+ youth center volunteer, LGBTQ+ advocacy group |
| Music: Instrumental | Playing an instrument in a group or on your own. | Marching band, Orchestra, Jazz band, Private piano study, Rock band |
| Music: Vocal | Singing in a group or on your own. | School choir, A cappella group, Church choir, Musical theater voice lessons, All-State choir |
| Religious | Activities through a faith community. | Youth group, Bible study, Altar server, Hebrew school teacher, Muslim Student Association |
| Research | Original research, usually with a mentor or lab. | University lab research, Independent research project, Science fair project, Research program like RSI or SSP |
| Robotics | Building and competing with robots. | FIRST Robotics (FRC), FTC team, VEX Robotics, School robotics club |
| School Spirit | Activities that build school pride and community. | Cheerleading, Pep club, Student section leader, Mascot, Spirit week committee |
| Science/MathRenamed for 2026-27 to Science or math | Science or math clubs and competitions. | Science Olympiad, Math team, Mu Alpha Theta, AMC competitions, Science National Honor Society |
| Social Justice | Advocacy and organizing for fairness and equal rights. | Amnesty International club, Voter registration drive, Racial justice group, Human rights campaign |
| Student Govt./PoliticsRenamed for 2026-27 to Student government or politics | Student government and political campaigns or groups. | Student council, Class officer, Political campaign volunteer, Youth and Government, Young Democrats or Republicans |
| Theater/Drama | Acting, directing and crew for shows. | School play or musical, Community theater, Stage crew, Improv troupe, Thespian Society |
| Work (Paid)Renamed for 2026-27 to Employment or work (paid) | Jobs you were paid for. | Restaurant job, Retail job, Lifeguard, Paid tutoring, Family business |
| Other Club/Activity | Anything that doesn't fit another type. | Chess club, Hobby you pursue seriously, Gaming or esports club, Cooking or baking business |
Picked your types and need help with the rest? Read the full Common App activities section guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
It's the newer wording for the type older lists call Career Oriented. Use it for hands-on preparation for a career that isn't a paid job or an internship, like DECA, HOSA, job shadowing, a career and technical program, or a certification such as CNA or EKG tech.
The official name of the club, team, company or group, in up to 100 characters. Add your school's name for school clubs (Lincoln HS Debate Team), the city for local groups (Austin Food Bank), and 'Self-employed' for your own business or freelance work.
Pick the one that matches what you spent most of your time doing. Readers care far more about your role and description than the type. A paid tutoring job is Work (Paid), while volunteer tutoring is Community Service (Volunteer).
Common App reworded some activity types for 2026-27, for example Work (Paid) is now Employment or work (paid). The meaning of each type didn't change. Find the option in your dropdown that matches the type here and pick that one.
A little. It helps readers sort your list at a glance, but no type is worth more than another. Spend your time on the position, organization name and 150-character description. See how to fill out the whole activities section.
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