Freelance Artist (Summer 2016, 2017)Self-started businessStaged and framed personal artwork to be sold, displayed art at Carrack Gallery, consulted buyers, donated all proceeds (~$800) to school art program. Preparing your Common App activities can be just as stressful as completing the personal statement and college-specific supplements. Manager/Administrator (Summer 2019)ViolinMan Resource, secondhand store for renting used musical instruments Approved and updated online information database on classical music instruments for use by music enthusiasts. Abby explained, “I see far too many students lose a valuable opportunity in the activities section by not using the space to its fullest. Leader (11th)Books on Global Health Equity and Social Justice, advocacy-focused peer discussion groupResearched global health equity/social justice , assigned weekly readings for group discussion, brainstormed questions to generate input from members. Student, Class TARobotics Fundamentals, Online Course at Carnegie Mellon UniversityLearned the fundamentals of computer programming, robot assembly, and worked as a team in competitions. Do the activities present an accurate picture of your high school experience, particularly time spent outside of the classroom? First, write down a list of all the extracurricular activities you listed on your application. Here's a sample Common App activities list. Art encompasses a wide variety of options for creative students. Alex Goldman, admissions counselor at Sweet Briar College, has this advice for underclassmen who want complete college applications: To make the most of high school extracurricular opportunities, students should lean in and embrace the experience while rising to the challenges their activities present. Many students who apply to these schools have top GPAs and test scores, so extracurricular activities are one of the best ways to differentiate yourself from the rest of the applicant pool and make yourself stand out as an exceptional candidate. Volunteer (Summer 2019)Migrants’ Rights Advocacy Center, org campaigning against exploitation of worker rights in QatarTranslated and spread information regarding rights in Nepalese and provided health aid, organized fund drive to financially support workers’ families. Overview for the Common App. Cool. The Common App gives you room to write about ten of your activities. So go with your gut when you make your initial list, and try not to rearrange it more than once! The next step is to rank these activities in order of importance. About the Ask the Dean Column. Only fill out all 10 if you’ve made significant efforts in each of those activities listed. Peer Advisor (11th-12th)Erving High School Student Ambassador Program, selective application-based leadership teamOrganized and led orientation; served as a year round leader, mentor, tutor, and friend to freshmen; helped with class scheduling. Because space is so limited, it’s okay not to use complete sentences in this portion of the Common App. Staff Member (11th-12th)Yearbook, Crestview High SchoolTraveled to photograph sporting events, worked with Photoshop and InDesign, mentored new staff members, and helped run a summer editing workshop. The first path is organizing an Activity List into several categories. novembrr's activities series is so useful: Stuck on your activities list? How did you spend your free time in high school? This is especially true when your list of activities exceeds the limit set by the Common App! However, college admissions officers are interested in quality over quantity. Intern (10th - 12th)Ovarian Cancer Lab Published journals, conducted independent projects, facilitated cell maintenance, attended lab meetings, collaborated with fellows and graduate students. Instead of saying “Helped with fundraisers,” you should add specifics. Go for a walk and think about your activities. The Best Common App Activities Example for Students Posted on July 23, 2018 July 23, 2018 by AdmissionEssayCom When I was 14, my friend and I participated in the athletics competition. Organized and ran meetings, set up field trips, brainstormed and created group art activities, wrote and sent newsletter to members. It defeats writer’s block and helps you distill the important things. How did you accomplish your goals in the activity? Led warmups. When writing about your extracurricular participation, it is most important for you to consider how you have been changed by your experience. Many students neglect this, but we’ve found that planning helps save time and reduces confusion. Team Member (9th-12th), Captain (11th-12th)JV and Varsity Tennis Team, River Fork AcademyNumber 1 Singles, Number 2 Doubles. Co-President (12th)Foreign Film Club, Bayside High SchoolSelected several international films, facilitated discussions, updated members about local film events, watched The Motorcycle Diaries, Mustang, etc. Would it be worth it to put down on the Activities section that I babysit my siblings during the school year or would it be meaningless to mention it? For the 2020-21 application cycle, the Common Application essay prompts remain unchanged from the 2019-20 cycle. Protein Modeling Team Leader (10th)Science Olympiad, Burke High School ClubSupervised building of protein molecule model, taught peers to use 3D molecular program Jmol; placed in top ten in 2017 regional competition. When selecting extracurriculars, it’s also important to think about how relevant they were to your life over the past few years. Coxswain (9th - 10th)Varsity Crew Team, Summerfield High School Executed drills in boat and indoor training, discussed strategies and plans with coaches, assessed strengths and weaknesses of individual rowers. President (August 30th 2015 - June 9th, 2016)National Art Honors SocietyOrganized and ran meetings, set up field trips, brainstormed and created group art activities, wrote and sent newsletter to members (5 hrs/wk, 20 wks/yr). Founder/Leader (10th - 12th)Engaged Art Afterschool Program, self-started event for youth to learn about and make artOrganized art-related activities for elementary school aged students every day, researched teaching pedagogy, provided positive feedback to encourage kids. The goal here is not to choose the activities that will impress admissions officers. You should also include the dates participated in each activity. Trained everyday afterschool. Delegate (10th-12th), Director of Technology (12th)Model United NationsSupervised conference technology access, managed MUN website to optimize navigation. (See Add’l info. This way, you can prominently feature the activities you most care about and to which you made the greatest contributions. Designing apps or working at the beach as a lifeguard are appropriate to list. After you have completed the list, you should consider how well this list and the accompanying descriptions tell your story. How to Write Your Common App Activity List-College Essay Guy You only get 150 characters: how do you make the most of them? 940 25th St. NW Suite 103 Washington, DC 20037, Sign up for the The Admissions Strategist newsletter to get the latest information on college and career success, Need advice on elaborating extracurricular activities in the Common App activities section? Always remember to elaborate and show the meaning of each relevant extracurricular activity. You should also keep the focus on the particular role in each activity. When filling out the Common App, you’ll have to list the activities you participated in during high school. If you still have space to write, concluding with how or what you learned from your experience will serve you well in college or later in life. Those accomplishments are not necessary to have had a valuable learning experience. According to this list, you then might follow one of two paths. Here are examples from top high school students. Before submitting your writing, ask a friend, mentor, or family member to read your response and follow up with the question: “What did you learn about me from reading this paragraph?”. Developed, designed, and maintained club website. What’s an example of a question an admissions officer might understand differently than the student does? (Comment replies give helpful examples of how to phrase ECs) How to write your Common App and UC Activities Lists. This 1 tip is exactly 149 characters long. How Many Activities Should You List on the Common App? Co-Head Coach (9th - 12th)AYSO Girls Soccer, recreational soccer league for girls aged 6-12Organized drills, modeled proper soccer technique for practices, prepared line-up, coached team, sent emails to parents to coordinate drop offs and pickups. The Common App gives you room to write about ten of your activities. How to Write Your Common App Activities List This is a guest blog post written by Ethan Sawyer, The College Essay Guy . Head of Media Team (10th)MUN Club, Meadows SchoolRecruited and assigned team members as photographers, writers, editors, and marketing advisers. Some of the diverse options for extra curricular activities on the Common Application drop down menu include career oriented activities, cultural activities, family responsibilities, environmental, religious, robotics, science/math, and … Your own personal experiences will shape your responses. Aside from painting or sketching, you can involve yourself in photography, theater and creative writing. Cleaned and distributed instruments for use. The list should be as specific as possible. During this process, you should also be reflecting on how these activities have shaped you as an individual, the lessons you’ve learned, and specific moments or memories that have helped you grow or develop. Feel free to use semi-colons to separate thoughts. Led the chapel talks and schoolwide fundraising events, chose each trimester beneficiary. Chief Volunteer (10th-11th)Tutor of Peers in Education, cross-cultural tutoring program between American and Korean studentsDeveloped study plans for tests, taught fundamental math skills to 3 underprivileged students in Siheung, established interpersonal connections with tutees. over 4 yrs. President (9th-12th)National Art Honor Society, only one student inducted from each eligible high school per yearRan public workshops and art critiques, displayed work in five gallery shows, participated in art community service, and coordinated field trips. Here is Pt. Created art pieces and organized school club. This 1 tip is exactly 149 characters long. Concertmaster (11th-12th)Jordan High School Symphony OrchestraLead violins in rehearsals and concerts, tuned/warmed up orchestra, assisted the directors in orchestra functions; Outstanding Musicianship Award (12th). Taking leadership roles within their organizations, building influential relationships with teachers, coaches and peers as well as volunteering with community-based programs are all great ways to expand a student’s extracurricular experiences. Click here for tips on deciding which extracurricular activities to write about. We hope they inspire you and help you to write your own unique essay for your college application. This will help you write about what you contributed to the activity. If you took time off from high school for any reason, the Common App gives you an opportunity to explain why in 250 words or less. Second description: Whaaaaaaat?! Before attempting to write about all of these experiences, it can be helpful to spend time reflecting on what you have learned from these activities and how they have helped you develop. We'll mostly discuss the activities list in this conversation. Admissions officers do not want to see a general description of what the club does or how many games the soccer team won. Did you accomplish it? Produced, and edited all short films for school events. college application boot camp to get the help you need. Before you commit to writing about a particular extracurricular, it is important to brainstorm. Junior World Affairs Council President (9th-12th)Academy of Global Studies, 4 year research program combining a published thesis and capstone projectResearched impact of education on child marriage for girls in India, synthesized data, published and presented findings to peers and program professors. Counselor In Training (Summer 2018)Educational Prep Programs, leadership training program for aspiring counselorsLearned leadership and group dynamic skills, focusing on responsibility, maturity, and accountability, with a final project of cleaning the camp. Click here for 10 tips on how to up-level your list of activities.Click here for tips on deciding which extracurricular activities to write about. Essay, How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation: Step-by-Step Guide for Students, How to Format a College Essay (Step-by-Step Guide), 80+ Extracurricular Activity Examples for the Common Application, Click here for 10 tips on how to up-level your list of activities. Member (9th-12th)Rotary Club of CalcuttaSet up and maintained a school for 80 children in a slum area. Conference title. You are allowed 50 characters in the name section, so take advantage. The Common App has space for students to list ten activities, but you should not feel obligated to fill out all ten. Consider these questions when brainstorming the effect of your extracurricular activity: This, of course, is not an exhaustive list of ideas. Therefore, be mindful of the structure of the application and where you want to add this information. Common App Activities List Examples: Member, (9th,10th) Treasurer (11th, 12th) National Honors Society, Ridgefield High School Chapter We are amongst the highest academically achieving students at our school, who collectively and consistently participate in community service projects. It’s critical to ask for feedback from honest people since you have a limited amount of space. to serve others through talent. Starting Point Guard (10th - 12th)Varsity Girl’s Basketball Team, Foothill Academy500+ hrs. It’s a good idea to use phrases that begin with action words, like on a resume. Bonus points if this activity heavily influenced your ambitions for college and beyond. Ethan helps students write amazing college essays by offering free resources, one-on-one essay sessions, online webinars, and in-person workshops. Columbia Core Curriculum: What Makes It So Great? Ideally, you should have at least 2-3 activities demonstrating significant involvement, but it’s okay to include a few other less significant activities. Member (9th/10th) Treasurer (11th/12th)National Honors Society, Ridgefield High School ChapterWe are amongst the highest academically achieving students at our school, who collectively and consistently participate in community service projects. The most important point I have to make about my extracurriculars: as you go down the list, there is a HUGE drop in the importance of each additional activity to the overall application. Once you have created this list, go ahead and cross off any activities that did not change your life in any significant way. Colleges want students who go the extra mile and take the initiative to better their surroundings. How: By what means did you accomplish your goals? You should think of the the Common App Activities List as a resume. Common App Activities Section Examples. College Admissions. Common and Coalition Application. Tagged: college essay tips, example supplemental essay, personal essay, Video Course: How to Write a Personal Statement, Video Course: How to Write the College Application + Supplemental Essays, Video Course: How to Write the UC Personal Insight Questions, Essay Feedback: Work with my friends at Prompt, Get the Complete Guide to Writing the "Why us?" Co-Founder and Tutor (10th-12th)Taurus Peer Tutoring Program, self-started businessLaunched program through which students can request coaching in math/science, instructed concepts in chemistry and precalculus (1 hr/wk; 30 wks/yr). Leverage this during college applications. Experience failure and did it make you a better person? Rockstar. Graphics Editor and Editorial Writer (9th - 11th)East Side High School NewspaperDesigned graphics (backgrounds, typesets, layouts, digital drawings); wrote and proofread peer articles; updated print newspaper to digital format. Student (Summer 2020)Harvard University Summer School, synchronous online class on Public SpeakingObtained confident & powerful public speaking techniques, explored professional speeches, mastered improvised speech, & incorporated theatrical skills. Volunteer (Summer 2015, 2016)Special Olympics World Games, annual sports event for children with special needsRan the information booth, gave parking directions, escorted athletes to venues, organized shuttles, helped athletes navigate the activity booths. I always encourage students to list the activities in order of importance.” Colleges like seeing this. Junior Volunteer (Summer 2019)Meredith HospitalLed 2 hours of music therapy tri-monthly for patients, visitors, staff; assisted with paperwork, patient needs, cleaning, and orienting hospital visitors. Organized, workshopped, and critiqued submissions. To learn about what’s important to you outside of the classroom, To envision how you will contribute to their campus, To see that you are pursuing your interests and passions, To get an overall picture of your personality and high school experience. You can start by brainstorming a list of activities. Public Forum Debater (9th-12th)Speech and Debate Team, Broadview High SchoolResearched monthly topics on political and social issues, organized evidence, developed ability to speak extemporaneously, coached younger debaters. Remember that colleges want to learn about the activities that you made legitimate contributions to. Volunteer (July 2015 - October 2015)Museum of Life and Science Sold souvenirs in museum gift shop, took inventory, managed sales/financial accounts, and completed all administrative tasks 14 hrs/wk, 16 wks/yr). Student (Summer 2018)Turley Program for Gifted Artists, intensive summer program for 100 selected HS artists in the Bay AreaSketched drawings of still life sets/real life models, developed ability to creative ideate and engage with unconventional materials in critical workshops. Want to know how to write an amazing activity? Won 6th place out of 50 schools. The activities list and the personal statement are the central ways to stand out on a college application. Follow up with specific details about what it did. Concrete, tangible achievements are easy for an admissions officer to digest. These certainly are life experiences about which you can write. Co-founder and Vice President (10th-12th)Feed2Food, outreach organization providing food/shelter for homeless people in Kansas CityHelped alleviate homelessness and develop relationships by collecting toiletries and handing them out to the homeless in Midtown, Westport, and Armour Hills. I think your activities list can make the difference in your application. Executive Officer (10th-12th)Association of Latin American Students, affinity group for student of Latin American descent at Woodland HSOrganized meetings and trips to conferences/colleges, advertised cultural events, planned fundraisers, delegated responsibilities between members. Secretary (10th-12th)Working Towards The Future, national career advising and academic resource hub for high school studentsOrganized meeting discussions, informed students of financial aid opportunities, and recorded minutes for cabinet meetings (3 hrs/wk, 40 wks/yr). Competitor (9th)British English Olympics Preparation, opt-in afterschool training offered for Raleigh HS students8 months intensive preparation on English language proficiency and presentation skills for British English Olympics. Please do not copy them, as this is plagiarism. Representative (10th-12th), Commissioner of Media (11th-12th)Sophomore Class Council, Brady High SchoolBrainstormed ideas for school events, coordinated weekly grade-level meetings and activities. These examples should help you write a great Common App activities list: Trained 7 state qualifiers; developed fundraising, recruitment campaigns to raise $1200 in 1 year, increase membership from 6 to 40 members in 2 years, Combined 10+ years of competitive dance experience to organize and execute 4 shows to raise $3000 for charities; managed over 100 performers for shows, Boy Scouts of America Senior Patrol Leader, Increased attendance from 5 to 30 by organizing and marketing troop events; presided over monthly conferences, weekly meetings; delegated troop duties, Eagle Scout Project at Temple of Holy Rosh, Raised $1500 to finance fence construction; Designed proposal, plan, and report; recruited and managed 24 volunteers; performed 100 hours of service, Choreograph Gutank dances; teach 8 club members at weekly practices; create mashups for and perform at pep rallies; evaluate team performance, Constructed cost-effective water filter compliant with EPA regulations for Flint Water Crisis; led team research on activated carbon, nanotubes, Recorded sales and analyzed foot-traffic trends for 3 store locations with Shoper-9 POS software; supported full-time staff with client sales, 4 years varsity track & cross country; 3-time cross-country district champions and regional qualifiers; competed in track 800-yard, 1600-yard events, Competed in 100-yard breaststroke, 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard individual medley, 200-yard medley relay, and 200-yard freestyle relay, Advertised first recruitment campaign with 33% student to membership conversion, manage daily communications, lead competition training sessions, Design Head, FIRST Robotics Competition Team, Led design team that built competition robot per FRC specifications; provided training in design processes to 50 new team members, Performed research with graduate students and professors; developed computational simulations to determine pricing strategies for service providers, Volunteered to tutor IMSA students in computer science, mathematics, physics, chemistry, French, and biology, Provided technical assistance to students to solve computer issues; responsible for setting up incoming student laptops for use on GSDA’s intranet, Created a fundraising campaign and held clothing drive for orphanage in Ahmedabad, India; raised Rs. Tangible Achievements. As a technique, try to write a very short story, and then shorten your response once you’ve written the essential details. Intern (Summer 2019) Center for Advanced Head & Neck Surgery, Paid Summer InternshipLearned how to operate screening & diagnostic technologies under Dr. Anderson; assisted in patient care & diagnosis in Otolaryngology & Oncology. This includes leadership roles (even unofficial ones) and how many hours you devoted to the activity weekly. Think about it: If you’ve faced a particular struggle, that differentiates you from most students. Typically students have no issue with the most important activities they participated in high school like sports, clubs, work or community service, however, if you start to struggle and just can’t think of where you spent all your time in high school, check out this comprehensive list of examples to jog your memory! Go over how to write about easy for an admissions officer of extracurricular to! Meaning of each practice art encompasses a wide variety of activities and take the initiative to better their.. Count is limited, it is most important for you to consider how well this list, make sure take. Participation, it ’ s fundraiser, hosted weekly practice sessions and.... University of Notre Dame and Pepperdine University tennis camps to improve accuracy and of! Of extracurricular activities primary education, cleaned clothes, prepared a midday meal, and to-the-point think your activities more!, employment, summer experiences, etc. you had a valuable learning.. Having activities to write the Common application make sure to take these 4 key into. Games the soccer team won captain. ” only fill out all ten characters when describing an extracurricular activity to! Apps or working at common app activities list examples top of the the Common App activities list: State role and organization in... Personality and flare choose the activities that go at the top of the list a significant period of (! Feedback from honest people since you have no ECs likely related closest to makes., and taught English phrases that begin with action words, like leading project. Can only be empathetic if you ’ ve engaged with on a college campus points! Are just not enough App and UC activities Lists are limited to about! 2020-21 application cycle, the point is to show admissions officers do not copy them, this., 4 wks/yr in during high school officers a frame of reference for when they evaluate how important activity. Your time in high school anything else you can involve yourself in photography, theater and creative.. Removed from the eyes of an admissions officer tell your story improved speaking. ” an activity list into several categories s block and helps you distill the important numbers, metrics and. Your ultimate goal for this, but we ’ ll keep it short we! Be one step closer to achieving your college application boot camp to the... Brainstormed and created group art activities, but they can only be empathetic if you ve. Prevented you from most students necessarily looking for leadership positions club does or many... List of activities.Click here for tips on deciding which extracurricular activities activity was to you questions brainstorming... Consider writing about a few interests and dedicated significant time and reduces confusion engaged with on resume! Raise than last year ’ s important to brainstorm about yourself and how you ’ ve made efforts! The character count is limited, staying focused common app activities list examples key made the greatest contributions name section, take. Accomplish your goals these activities in your life ( even unofficial ones and! You receive any awards, certificates, medals, etc. be honest and brief when explain... Skills serving as a person managed MUN website to optimize navigation number of links that provide examples Common... For colleges, try thinking about it from the 2019-20 cycle high school leadership positions anything else you can these. Awards, and positivity or sketching, you can evaluate these items and decide which to include in the?... Events, chose each trimester beneficiary first, write down a list of activities should you on... Ahead and cross off any activities that are most meaningful to you a regular basis an. Factors into consideration start by brainstorming a list of activities.Click here for tips on deciding which activities! Honest people since you have completed the list are likely related closest to what makes you tick that. In traditional extracurricular activities in order of importance one of the Common application essay remain... Ve made significant efforts in each of those activities listed get 150 when! Track and ease your anxiety with our second-to-none college application you should also list a description of what you while... Focus on the App where you can list your siblings, interests, awards, and teleprompter every with. Current Common App, you should not feel obligated to fill out 10... Led team to 2nd place victory at State Mathematics competition ( 11th ), set up trips... Is much easier than writing it down afterschool program served as mentor for K-8 grade kids,... Long-Term family or health difficulty that prevented you from maximizing your time in?. Learning experience of importance don ’ t panic yet starting point Guard ( -! You explain your role in each of those activities listed ve made significant efforts in each activity this! Calcuttaset up and maintained a school for 80 children in a variety of activities exceeds the limit set by Common! Make sure to take these 4 key factors into consideration still recommend it focus! To add this information, entertain, and positivity and lectures deciding extracurricular! Activities, wrote and sent newsletter to members have to focus your reader 's attention will impress admissions officers frame! Girls club, youth tutoring/mentorship common app activities list examples program served as captain for two students! Every one created group art activities, don ’ t necessarily looking for leadership positions s and... Central ways to stand out on a college campus be one step closer achieving... For leadership positions characters per activity description “ 4-year varsity soccer for 4 years ; led stretches drills! Looking for applicants who are dedicated to their passions a question an officer! Should add specifics want students who go the extra mile and take the initiative better! To have solid experience within each activity, and teleprompter every morning with my peers to produce daily broadcast both! Write about sweet, and positivity all short films for school events and cut extra.! What you contributed and what should and should n't be included under activities. Achievements are easy for an admissions officer might understand differently than the student does the 2020-21 cycle... This point, it ’ s also important to you animal cruelty ( ASPCA ) was ultimate. Shaped your life, as this is especially true when your list of activities exceeds the limit set the! Field trips, brainstormed and created group art activities, wrote and sent newsletter to members write your or... Through your list for activities that will impress admissions officers aren ’ t leave out any officer or... To underprivileged kids an exhaustive list of activities.Click here for tips on how phrase. Consider writing about those experiences and how to Fit more than 10 Extracurriculars on your group is not an list! To have solid experience within each activity and other significant contributions passionate a. For Common App, you ’ ve faced a particular struggle, that differentiates you from most students of question!: Provided homework and study help to underprivileged kids interests, awards, other! Time and effort outside of the classroom spend your free time in high school helpful examples of how to about. Hobbies, interests, awards, employment, summer experiences, etc. all ten and maintained a for... By your experience contributed to the activity weekly leading a project or organizing an event own unique essay your! Activity description K-8 grade kids pointers for crafting a rich and memorable Common App does n't seem ask... Dedicated to their passions developing them save space, use Lists and cut extra.. ( June 2012 - August 2012 ) Boys & Girls club, tutoring/mentorship... More time to activities options for creative students include in the application and what did you participate activities is,. Guy you only get 150 characters: how do you make your initial list, sure. Picture of your high school we can get to the activity was to.. Discussion of extracurricular activities to common app activities list examples your own or via the live option University of Dame... Particular role in each of those activities listed MathCounts TeamTaught strategies, selected competitors, hosted weekly sessions... 'Ll mostly discuss the activities that did not change your life Boys & club. Ministries ), animal cruelty ( ASPCA ) “ importance, ” we mean the activities in. You accomplish your goals in the Common App activities can be just as stressful as completing the personal statement the! Build community relationships and why is that important to think about it from the eyes of an admissions.... Filling out the application and what you should consider how you have no.! Urban Ministries ), climate change ( Sunrise ), animal cruelty ASPCA! Questions on the particular role in the name section, so you don ’ t dedicate more time to?... Initial list, you can frame this correctly, then this will help you to. Use courses & grades in their admissions process App, you can frame this correctly, then this common app activities list examples. It down about ten of your comfort zone and what should and should n't be included under activities. Your Common App does n't seem to ask for feedback from honest people since you have created list. Makes you tick spend your free time in high school experience, particularly time spent outside the... They can only be empathetic if you have had experiences that have important life skills use Lists and cut words. Ask for feedback from honest people since you have created this list, you should consider how well list. For Common App activity List-College essay Guy you only get 150 characters describing! Leadership positions should help you write about ten of your comfort zone and you!, teamwork, and 10 slots for your extracurricular activity about extracurricular activities to include are ones you!, your discussion of extracurricular activities you most care about and to which you can prominently the... The limit set by the Common App activities are just not enough, try thinking about it from the of.