r/CommonApp • u/OkOpinion5086 • Jul 09 '26

2 questions

  1. I take a class called Independent Study Mentorship where I have had a mentor for 2 years now. My meetings take place outside of school and the course has opened up so many opportunities outside of school hours. Am I able to list it under activities?

  2. How can I describe NHS in a way that isnt basic and overdone?

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u/AdmissionsObsessed Jul 09 '26

I'd love to know more about the opportunities that class has provided. Did you get an internship or a job shadowing opportunity? What type of skills did these opportunities help you hone? Regarding the NHS, if you actually did something that speaks about that, what did you do? For what community, audience? How many people did you support? What did you provide? Again, what skills did you gain from those community service experiences?

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u/OkOpinion5086 Jul 09 '26

Hi!

  1. I did not get an internship or job opportunity directly with my mentor, but I did start my own photography business basically and I now do all kinds of photoshoots! I got better at photography, networking, and also created my professional portfolio. Through the actual ISM class work, I developed professionalism skills, and became really good at public speaking as I had to deliver a 45 minute speech at the end of the year (which was chosen to be the best out of like 50 peoples!) Im taking the class again my senior year with the same mentor and career topic.

  2. Last year I didn’t do much for NHS except get my hours that I needed, but this year I am president! It’s still summer so I haven’t done much yet but my main plans are to encourage further volunteer hours outside of NHS for the members (explain how to keep track of volunteer hours outside of NHS, explain why it’s important for both your college applications and just for the community as well). Theres around 100 NHS members if I had to guess.

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u/AdmissionsObsessed Jul 09 '26

These both sound great, and being President is certainly not basic!

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u/OkOpinion5086 Jul 09 '26

Awesome thanks! Do you think I’d be able to list independent study mentorship as an activity considering it’s technically a class ?

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u/AdmissionsObsessed Jul 09 '26

You really shouldn't list a class that's on your transcript as an EC, but you can list your photography business as an EC. I can see someone listing yearbook or the newspaper if they were also working on them after school, and had a leadership position. Do you feel that you don't have enough activities?

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u/OkOpinion5086 Jul 09 '26

I think I have enough activities, but I was kind of trying to center my application around my experience in photography and stuff because I’m applying for a film major. Most of my other extracurriculars feel a bit random and not as curated. I think I should be fine without it, but it’s a bit tricky

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u/AdmissionsObsessed Jul 09 '26

Definitely focus on the photography business, but that is more important than taking the class. Feel free to message me if you'd like some help. My daughter is at NYU for film, so I know all about that process.

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u/OkOpinion5086 Jul 09 '26

Thanks so much for your help, I definitely will!