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Quick question: If we elect to submit a resume (or if it is required or suggested), is the primary objective of the question listed below to strictly gauge the importance of activities to applicants? Is it acceptable to leave the field blank, since it is otherwise redundant (particularly with the positions, description, and responsibilities)?

"List your extracurricular, community, or other activities in the order of their importance to you. Give a brief description of your involvement, including any special responsibilities or leadership positions held."

Any input would be great. Thanks in advance!

I'm a bit confused by your question, but here's what I know:

--If an app wants you to list information on the application, then you need to do so. Don't leave a section blank and write "please see attachment." Complete what the school wants you to complete. Then, attach your resume, even if it appears redundant.

--Is this strictly to gauge what's most important to you? Not entirely. But, yes, schools are interested to know what activities meant the most to you. But, they also want to see what you did, etc.

Thanks for your response!

While I understand that you would not, generally speaking, want to leave a field empty and reference an attachment, isn't being redundant undesirable? Your resume would specify all of the information that they are requesting and the only thing exempt would be the ordering of your activities by their importance to you.

sunshiiine wrote:Thanks for your response!

While I understand that you would not, generally speaking, want to leave a field empty and reference an attachment, isn't being redundant undesirable? Your resume would specify all of the information that they are requesting and the only thing exempt would be the ordering of your activities by their importance to you.

Some of the information will overlap, but I would include both. Your resume will have education/honors/publication etc. information on it that won't be included with the extracurricular stuff.

If you're hesitant to be redundant though, then don't attach a resume. It's far worse to leave their question blank, or to write "see the attachment" instead of giving them the information they want.