CCTS Meeting: (STEM Specific) Extracurriculars and Activities Portion
I am a Moorpark College student majoring in data science, aiming to transfer to a UC, so, I am currently a participant is UC Berkley’s Community College Transfer Services (CCTS) webinar series, which is all about preparing for the application and your future. This webinar (on 9/18/2025) was focused on the “Extracurriculars and Activities” part of the UC application, specific to STEM.
Notes
Additional Comments and activites and awards, stem edition/
Activities and awards section of the uc application
Main purpose of this section: Space for clarity and detail on circumstances
example uses of this portion: academic gaps, reduced course load, withdrawal, academic renrewal, health stations, family responsibilitys, work responsibilites
Topic examples:
- break/gap years
- poor grades
- classes that weren’t avaible/didnt fit schedule
- english learner
- summer program experiences
- circumstances that affected abilit to succeed
- special recognition that you are proud of
- family dynamics that may impact you
- etc
Tips:
- Do not use this as a PIQ, explain information you weren’t able to provide in your PIQs
- focus on impact and be as specific as you can
- key words and context
- Try to include numbers to provide more clarity
Do’s:
- include the full name and short desc. of activity
- Describe your role, responsibilities, and accomplishments
- share the impact of your work
- when writing your desciption
- quantity, show impact and/or accomplishments
Don’ts:
- use acronyms, leave desc blank, list same activity multiple time
- speak about work of others, list future roles, list activites from high school (unless activity continued through community college or first year of community college)
Educational Preparation Programs
Programs students benefited from (not volunteered for), such as MESA, EOPS, Honors, TRIO, CCTS, and transfer prep programs. Strong Entry Example:
- Name: Mathematics, Engineering, Science, and Achievement (MESA) Program
- Description: Selected for a STEM support program focused on academic excellence and transfer readiness; attended weekly skill-building workshops; engaged in collaborative study groups; participated in industry panels; served as peer mentor to new students during second year.
Honors & Awards
Accomplishments receiving recognition, including Dean’s List, scholarships, certificates, academic awards, Phi Theta Kappa, and leadership certificates. Strong Entry Example:
- Name: Allied Health Pathways Scholarship
- Description: Selected for merit-based scholarship awarded to pre-health students with strong academic performance and commitment to healthcare equity. One of 10 recipients from pool of over 100 applicants. Funds supported coursework in anatomy and volunteer work at local clinic.
Work Experience
Paid positions including part-time jobs, internships, work-study, tutoring (paid), and on-campus jobs. Strong Entry Example:
- Name: Crew Member, McDonald’s
- Description: Work 20-25 hours weekly while attending college full-time. Developed strong multi-tasking, communication, and leadership skills by training new employees, resolving customer issues, and managing high-volume shifts. Balancing work and academics taught discipline and resilience.
Volunteer Experience
Unpaid service like hospital volunteering, food banks, animal shelters, beach cleanups, unpaid tutoring, and community service.
Strong Entry Example:
- Name: Volunteer, Berkeley City College Food Bank
- Description: Volunteer weekly to store, package, and distribute food to low-income families and unhoused individuals. Trained new volunteers and helped streamline distribution during high-demand seasons. Strengthened commitment to service and awareness of food insecurity in underserved communities.
Extracurricular Activities
Commitments outside academics including clubs, student government, sports, personal projects, and professional organizations.
Strong Entry Example:
- Name: Student-Athlete, Men’s Soccer Team
- Description: Competed as student-athlete on college soccer team while managing full academic course load. Attended daily practices, competed in statewide tournaments, and served as team co-captain in second year. Built strong discipline, time management, and leadership skills.
Writing Effective Entries
- Include official names and titles of programs
- Be specific and detailed when describing responsibilities
- Include relevant numbers and data (metrics) when possible
- Share impact and skills learned
- For personal projects, highlight transferable skills gained
Action Items
- Complete the CCTS intake form if not already submitted (required for participation certificate)
- Consider attending the College Information Day on Saturday, October 25th (9am-4pm)
- Track your own webinar attendance (need at least 5 for certificate)
Additional Guidance
- Family responsibilities and work commitments are valuable experiences worth highlighting
- Small businesses, side hustles, and “under-the-table” jobs should be included as work experience
- Personal research projects can be listed under extracurricular activities
- High school activities are generally only recommended if within the past three years
- The order of listing activities doesn’t significantly impact evaluation
Thank you to the CCTS team:
Final Thoughts
Summary: This webinar focused on effectively completing the Activities & Awards and Additional Comments sections of the UC application, with emphasis on STEM majors. The presenter, Maika Jimenez (CCTS transfer advisor), noted that while examples were STEM-focused, the strategies apply to all majors. Students attending at least five CCTS webinars and completing the UC TAP planner can receive a participation certificate.
They provided so many examples as to the correct way to convey what you earned (be specific, dos and don’ts), and I am incredibly grateful for all of the hard work the team has invested into this webinar series. I cannot wait for more, and thank you for reading!
