For many students, the activities section of the UBC Personal Profile feels deceptively simple. Applicants are asked to describe up to five significant activities, as well as one or two experiences in greater depth. However, with strict character limits and limited space, every sentence must work hard to communicate impact, growth, and personal contribution.
These questions are not simply asking for a list of extracurricular activities. Instead, UBC wants to understand how students spend their time, what they choose to commit themselves to, and what they have learned through those experiences. Whether your involvement comes from athletics, employment, volunteering, family responsibilities, creative pursuits, or community engagement, the goal is to demonstrate meaningful participation and personal development.
In Part Two of our guide, we will explore how to approach both the short activity descriptions and the longer activity response, discuss common mistakes to avoid, share insights from our writing coaches, and provide sample answers to illustrate effective strategies.
3. Describe up to five activities that you have pursued or accomplishments achieved in one or more of the following areas. Please outline the nature of your responsibilities within these activities: (500 characters each)
- Club
- Family/community responsibilities
- Creative or performing arts
- Work/employment
- Athletics
- Volunteer
- Service to others
- Other(s)
What it’s asking:
- This question asks you to list and elaborate on key activities or accomplishments. You should focus on the roles you’ve held, your level of responsibility, and the impact you’ve had.
- You can choose from a wide variety of experiences, so select activities that showcase your involvement, commitment, and leadership potential.
Things to think about:
- Choose activities that are meaningful and impactful. For example, don’t just list a club you were part of, describe your specific role and contributions.
- Include a range of activities that demonstrate different strengths, whether academic, leadership, community involvement, or personal passions.
- Be specific about your responsibilities and any accomplishments (e.g., organized an event, led a team, improved a program).
Tips from our Writing Coaches:
- Use this section to highlight activities you won’t have a chance to discuss in other sections of your profile. Try not to repeat activities or accomplishments throughout your profile (with the exception of question four, which specifically asks that you discuss one or two of the activities listed in this section).
- Remember to focus on what you personally contributed to the activity.
- Don’t forget to discuss what you learned through each activity. This makes a great concluding sentence for each activity description.
Sample essay:
1. Organizing School Talent Show (Club):
I took the lead in organizing my school’s annual talent show, where I was responsible for recruiting performers, coordinating rehearsals, and managing event logistics. I worked closely with a team of students to create promotional materials, arrange sound and lighting, and ensure everything ran smoothly on the day of the event. This experience taught me how to manage time effectively, work under pressure, and collaborate with a large group of people.
2. Volunteering at the Local Food Bank (Volunteer):
Every month, I volunteer at the local food bank, where I assist with sorting donations and packaging food for families in need. I’ve worked closely with a team to organize community drives and ensure that the food bank runs smoothly during peak seasons. This experience has taught me the value of giving back to my community and the importance of addressing food insecurity in a hands-on way.
3. Senior Soccer Team (Athletics):
I’ve been a member of my high school’s varsity soccer team for three years, playing as a midfielder. In addition to practicing multiple times a week, I also help mentor younger players, teaching them new skills and encouraging teamwork. I was also selected as team captain this year, where I helped organize practices, led team discussions, and made sure everyone stayed motivated and supported throughout the season.
4. School Newspaper (Club):
I am a writer and editor for my school’s newspaper. I’ve contributed articles on various topics, from student life to environmental issues. As an editor, I review submissions, provide feedback to writers, and help organize the layout of the paper. This role has strengthened my writing, teamwork, and communication skills. It’s also helped me become more involved in school affairs and learn about journalistic integrity.
5. Babysitting and Family Responsibilities (Family/Community):
As the oldest child, I take on significant family responsibilities, including looking after my younger siblings after school. I also manage household chores, such as meal preparation and organizing family schedules. Babysitting has taught me how to handle multiple tasks at once, stay patient in challenging situations, and be a role model for my siblings. Balancing these duties with school has also helped me develop time management and problem-solving skills.
4. Tell us more about one or two activities listed above that are most important to you. Please explain the role you played and what you learned in the process. You will be asked for a reference who can speak to your response.
What it’s asking:
- This question asks you to provide more detail about one or two key activities that have been especially significant to you.
- You should describe your role in these activities, the challenges you faced, and the personal growth or insights gained from them.
Things to think about:
- Which activities have had the most impact on you, either personally or in terms of your growth?
- Focus on how you contributed and what you learned. This could be leadership skills, teamwork, problem-solving, or resilience.
- Choose activities that are both meaningful and reflective of your values and goals, and be prepared to provide a reference who can speak to your involvement.
Tips from our Writing Coaches:
- We tend to recommend choosing one activity to discuss in this essay so that you can provide enough detail to really answer the question in the limited character count provided.
- Whether you choose to discuss one or two activities this essay should feel like a cohesive narrative.
- If you choose to discuss two activities, think about how they might be linked together. Perhaps you became involved in one activity because of the other (think: becoming a soccer coach after many years of playing soccer), or perhaps the activities are thematically linked (if you wanted to discuss soccer coaching and peer mentoring, the theme could be working with younger students in a leadership role).
Sample essay:
One of the activities that has been most important to me is organizing my school’s annual talent show. As the lead coordinator, I was responsible for overseeing the entire event, from recruiting performers to managing event logistics.
When I first took on this responsibility, I was excited but also nervous about how much work was involved. My role as the organizer meant that I had to juggle multiple tasks at once, from scheduling rehearsals to ensuring all performers had the materials and support they needed. I also had to communicate constantly with teachers, custodians, and volunteers to ensure everything was in place for the big night.
One of the biggest challenges was managing the time leading up to the event. We had a limited window to rehearse with the performers, which meant I had to be organized and efficient. I created a detailed timeline of events and worked hard to stick to it, making adjustments when unexpected issues came up. There were moments when things didn’t go as planned, like when we faced technical difficulties with the sound system during rehearsal, but I learned that staying calm and asking for help was key. I also realized how important it was to be adaptable and flexible, especially when things didn’t go as smoothly as I’d hoped.
What I took away most from this experience was the value of collaboration. While I was the lead organizer, the success of the event depended on my team’s input and effort. I learned how to delegate tasks, trust others to do their part, and work together to bring the event to life. The planning and execution were just as important as building a supportive environment where everyone felt motivated and valued. The night of the talent show was a huge success, and the feeling of accomplishment we shared as a team made all the hard work worthwhile.
Through organizing the talent show, I learned the importance of time management, effective communication, and teamwork. These are lessons I will carry with me in the future, whether I’m working on another school project, pursuing a career, or contributing to my community.
The activities section of the UBC Personal Profile is about much more than quantity. Admissions officers are looking for evidence of commitment, initiative, growth, and impact. A thoughtfully written description can often reveal more than a lengthy list of accomplishments.
As you revise your responses, focus on showing what you did, why it mattered, and how the experience influenced you. By highlighting the significance of your involvement and reflecting on what you gained from it, you can help UBC develop a clearer picture of your contributions and potential as a future student. Looking for support with your UBC Personal Profile this fall? Contact us today to meet with one of our experienced writing coaches.
