🍦 Today's Scoops Aug 29: How to write out a great activity list

Good morning folks! Here’s what we have today:

1. School of the Day: University of Wisconsin – Madison

2. Admissions Blueprint: How to write the activity list

3. TikTok Thursday: 3 of our favorite TikToks on #collegetok

SCHOOL OF THE DAY
University of Wisconsin – Madison

Every day, we cover a different school, helping you learn something new about your favorite schools or find a new school that could end up being your dream school.

📍 Location: Madison, Wisconsin
🎓 Undergraduates Enrolled: 32,458
📊 Acceptance Rate: 49% (60,214 applicants)
📝 Average SAT/ACT: 1425/29
💸 Tuition: $9,273 (in-state), $37,904 (out-of-state)
📅 Admission Options: November 1 (Early Action), January 15 (Regular Decision)
🏆 Top Ranking Programs: Environmental Science (#23), Business (#26), Computer Science (#39) (Niche)
📈 Most Popular Majors: Computer Science (10%), Economics (8%), Psychology (7%) (US News)

Some positives

🚀 Renowned Research Opportunities: The University of Wisconsin-Madison is known for its strong emphasis on research across various fields. Facilities like the Waisman Center and the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery offer students the chance to work on cutting-edge projects, particularly in areas like biotechnology and environmental sciences.

🌳 Beautiful Campus: The campus is picturesque, with its lakeside setting and historic buildings. The Lake Mendota and the Arboretum provide a natural escape for students, contributing to a relaxing and scenic environment.

🎨 Vibrant Student Life: UW-Madison boasts a dynamic student life with numerous clubs, organizations, and events. The Student Organizations Office supports a wide range of activities, from academic and professional groups to cultural and recreational ones, ensuring there’s something for everyone.

🌍 Strong Alumni Network: The university’s extensive alumni network is a valuable resource for students seeking career advice, internships, and job opportunities. Notable alumni include Google’s Sundar Pichai and former U.S. Secretary of Defense, James Mattis, reflecting the diverse paths graduates take.

🏅 Quality Academic Programs: UW-Madison is recognized for its strong programs in areas such as engineering, business, and social sciences. The College of Engineering and the Wisconsin School of Business are particularly noted for their excellence and provide robust academic experiences.

Some negatives

📚 Large Class Sizes: Similar to many large public universities, UW-Madison can have large class sizes, particularly in introductory courses. This can sometimes limit individual attention and make it challenging to engage in smaller, more interactive settings.

❄️ Long Winters: The weather in Wisconsin can be harsh, with long and cold winters that might be a challenge for those not accustomed to snowy conditions.

🏙️ College Town Atmosphere: Madison is a vibrant college town, but its overall pace and size might feel limiting compared to larger metropolitan areas. Students looking for a big-city experience might find the city’s offerings somewhat restrained.

ADMISSIONS BLUEPRINT
How to write the activity list

Crafting an effective activity list can be the key to standing out in your college applications. It’s more than just listing what you’ve done—it’s about showcasing your impact, leadership, and passions in a way that resonates with admissions officers. Let’s break down how to make each entry count!

🎯 Start with a Strong Title:
When filling out your activity list, each entry should start with a clear, impactful title. Use action verbs and make it specific. For example, instead of “Volunteer,” you could say “Led fundraising efforts for local animal shelter.”

📅 Include the Right Dates:
Make sure you include the correct start and end dates for each activity. If you’re still involved, use “Present” as the end date. This shows commitment and continuity.

📝 Be Concise but Detailed:
You have limited space, so make every word count. Focus on your role, what you did, and the impact. For example, instead of “Tutored students,” write “Tutored 10 students in calculus, leading to an average 20% improvement in their grades.”

🔍 Quantify Your Achievements:
Numbers make your accomplishments stand out. Whether it’s the number of people you helped, hours you spent, or percentage of improvement, quantifying adds weight to your entries.

🌟 Highlight Leadership and Initiative:
Colleges love seeing leadership. Emphasize any roles where you took charge, started something new, or led a team. Even if you didn’t have an official title, if you took initiative, it’s worth mentioning.

⚙️ Explain Your Role Clearly:
Avoid vague descriptions. Be specific about what you did and what your role entailed. Instead of “Worked on community service project,” say “Coordinated logistics for weekly food drives, delivering meals to 50+ families.”

💡 Focus on Impact:
Show how your activity made a difference. Did it help others, change something in your school, or lead to personal growth? Colleges want to see the impact of your efforts, not just the activity itself.

🤝 Mention Collaboration:
If the activity involved teamwork, highlight it. Collaboration is a key skill that colleges value. Describe how you worked with others to achieve a common goal.

🗂️ Organize by Importance:
List your most significant activities first. Admissions officers might not read the entire list, so put your most impressive and relevant activities at the top.

🔗 Tie It to Your Future Goals:
If possible, link your activities to what you want to pursue in college or as a career. This shows that you’re consistent and have a clear direction.

TIKTOK THURSDAY
Our 3 favorite TikToks from #collegetok

Here are some great TikToks that we saw on our For You Page this last week.

How to write the first Stanford supplemental essay - In this video, Brandon from @tineocollegeprep discusses how to come up with a great idea to answer the prompt about what makes the applicant driven to learn.

Tips from a student on how to study for the ACT - In this 4-minute video, a student goes over what her process of studying for the ACT looked like, including what books she used to study and how to fix specific weak spots you might have.

Another great personal statement example - Wow. What an amazing read. This video shares an amazing personal statement from a current college student. The essay is very simple and to the point, but the narrative shows some meaningful takeaways from the narrative.

LINK LOUNGE
Key Resources & Scholarships

In the Link Lounge section, you can find links to great resources such as scholarships during the college application process. These links can be really helpful and will be updated every Wednesday, so be sure to check back frequently!

Inside the Yale Admissions Office - This podcast by the Yale Admissions Office gives great insights into what goes on behind the scenes at many selective admissions offices. A great listen, especially if you’re interested in applying to Yale!

Federal Student Aid Guide on Finding Scholarships - This website by the Federal Student Aid program (a government program!) provides steps to prepare yourself for finding scholarships for college. It also includes many links to other great resources.

MathGPT - Not so much college-related, but a great tool for high school or college, that lets you create Khan Academy-style videos on any math topic or to answer any math question you might have.

DAILY DEADLINE UPDATES
Important testing dates are coming up!

In the Daily Deadlines section, we will keep you updated on upcoming deadlines in the college admissions world. Remember to not procrastinate and stay ahead of these deadlines!

September ACT: Saturday, September 14
University of Texas/UNC Chapel Hill Early Action Deadline: October 15
Most ED, REA & EA Deadlines: November 1

THE ARCHIVE
Looking for past mailings?

You can view all our previous posts at our website at https://scholarscoops.beehiiv.com

IDEAS COME FROM EVERYWHERE
Have an idea for the newsletter?

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