Hours per week calculator
Enter your total hours and tick at least one grade to see the two numbers to type in.
Character counter
The Common App stops you at these limits. Draft here and see what fits.
What the Common App asks for each activity
You can list up to 10 activities. For each one you fill in:
- Activity type, such as community service, athletics or a job.
- Position or leadership description, up to 50 characters.
- Organization name, up to 100 characters.
- Description, up to 150 characters: what you did and what came of it.
- Participation grade levels: 9, 10, 11, 12 or post-graduate.
- Timing of participation: during the school year, during school break, or all year.
- Hours spent per week and weeks spent per year.
- Whether you plan to do something similar in college.
How to work out hours per week
Hours per week is the total time you spent on the activity divided by the weeks you took part. Count practices, meetings, shifts and events, and the preparation that is part of the activity, like rehearsing for a performance. Leave out weeks off: if you skipped December, those weeks are not in the count.
The calculator uses the same rule. If you are still doing the activity this year, tick the box and enter the weeks so far, so a year that is only half over does not pull your weekly average down.
How to work out weeks per year
Weeks per year is how many weeks you are active in a typical year. A school-year club or volunteer shift is about 36 weeks, most sports seasons are 12 to 16 weeks, a summer program is 4 to 10 weeks, and something you do every week of the year is 52. If your years differ, use a typical one.
Examples
| Activity | Hours/week | Weeks/year | Grades | Total hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food bank, every Saturday | 3 | 36 | 10, 11, 12 | about 324 |
| Summer camp counselor | 40 | 6 | 11 | 240 |
| School newspaper editor | 5 | 32 | 11, 12 | 320 |
| Varsity soccer, fall season | 12 | 14 | 9, 10, 11, 12 | 672 |
Keep the numbers honest and consistent
Readers multiply hours per week by weeks per year to see how much of your time an activity took, so round to a typical week rather than your busiest one. The same numbers should show up on your resume, in your counselor's letter and on any hours forms. Keeping a log as you go, with a date, the hours and a supervisor for each entry, means you can answer if anyone asks.
New to logging? Start with the free printable log, read how to track volunteer hours for college, or work out your weekly pace for a goal with the volunteer hours calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate hours per week for the Common App?
Divide the total hours you spent on the activity by the number of weeks you took part. If you volunteered 180 hours over two school years of about 36 weeks each, that is 180 ÷ 72 = 2.5, so about 3 hours per week. Describe a typical week, not your busiest one.
What should I put for weeks per year?
The number of weeks in a typical year that you were active: about 36 for something you do through the school year, 12 to 16 for most sports seasons, 4 to 10 for a summer program, and up to 52 for something you do all year.
Should I count the summer?
Yes, if you did the activity then. Choose "All year" for the timing, or "During school break" if you only did it in the summer, and count those weeks in weeks per year.
What if my hours changed from year to year?
Use the average across the grades you list. If one year was very different, for example you became captain, say so in the 150-character description or in the Additional Information section.
Do colleges check my hours?
Colleges do not usually check each activity, but your counselor and teachers write about your involvement, and scholarships and some programs ask for signed hours. A log with dates and a supervisor for each entry makes your numbers easy to back up.