Info about activities - how to answer without making it into an activity list?

Question:
Please give us some information about your principal extracurricular, community, and family activities, work experiences, voluntary service, and hobbies, in the order of their interest to you. For each, be sure to include any major accomplishments such as leadership positions, varsity letters, awards, etc.

1.How do I link them so that it won't be like a list of activities? How do I even start?
2.Should I only list down activities that are relavant to my field of study?

Great question! You need to be creative, and you need to have seen lots of great pieces of writing so that you have good ideas. Your ability to do this in an impressive way can set you apart from the others. So... without giving an idea that would be MY idea instead of your idea, I'll tell you the secret key to this sort of dilemma:

Use a theme.

One essay = one big idea

If you think about all your activities and your chosen field of study, what theme comes to mind? Whatever it is, write an insightful piece of writing about the significance of these activities, these components of the life with this particular theme.

The theme is the glue that sticks them together and points them all in the same direction.

:-)

Definitely not. They are asking for your "whole person" here. They want to know everything you have done. Demonstrating that you are well-rounded and have at least tried other stuff is very important. Trying other things shows that you are (in theory at least) more committed to the major you have chosen. Additionally, it makes you more impressive because you get to say you did that much more stuff. Also, while it may not relate to your major it will show important qualities about you. For example, being class president has nothing to do with a biology major, but it does show you have leadership and organizational qualities. Volunteering for Habitat for Humanity doesn't matter to a math major, but it shows you are a caring person and not self-centered. See what I mean? These kinds of questions are about you as a person, regardless of your future or career.

good luck!

p.s. please take a look at mine too- scholarship letter for school scholarships- suggestions? thank you!