lauren926

I have a few spaces at the bottom of my activities list on the Common App that I'm debating on what to fill with. I played varsity softball and JV volleyball in 9th and 10th grade but didn't continue on with them due to other commitments and changing schools. Would it be worth it to include those on my app? I'm only asking because those were my main activities those years and were fairly time consuming (~20-25 hours/week in season) and I feel if I don't include them it will look like I did practically nothing during my first two years of high school. If I didn't list them I would probably replace them with tutoring or a month long service trip I went on one summer. Thanks in advance for any advice!

Lehigh2017

You don't need to fill all 10 slots. However, tutoring and volleyball would be good things to include, assuming you had a decent role in both of them. Don't worry about it though, you can leave them out and you'll be fine.

stressedouttt

if it was important to you than include it. even if you didn't love it, but sort of enjoyed it, I would count it.

ptontiger16

You should probably include the varsity softball. They know that making a varsity sport freshman or sophomore years shows commitment and dedication.

missjulia423

I'm in the same situation as you (varsity sport for only 9th and 10th) and I'm including it, but just putting it as my very last activity. I'm filling 9 out of my 10 slots and my last few slots have been ones that I have enjoyed, but did not participate in for too long.

Rob1995

@ptontiger16: It depends on the school. At smaller schools like mine you can make varsity as early as 6th or 7th grade.

lauren926

Thanks for all the advice guys! I'm probably going to put in varsity softball for my last slot just to show that I didn't totally slack during 9th/10th grade. My main worry was just looking like a flake for stopping after just two years, but I think it's fine since I'm very involved at my new school for 11th/12th grade.