What to Cut and What to Keep - How to Prioritize the Pieces That Matter Most on Your College Application

Written by Sienna, Princeton University

One of the most popular topics when it comes to college admissions is how to craft a compelling personal “brand” - a cohesive application narrative that is both memorable and unique. However, creating your personal brand is a lot easier said than done since there exists a fine balance between showing a diversity of interests and maintaining a strong, recognizable core theme throughout your application. With countless activities, achievements, and experiences to choose from, how do you decide what to include and what to leave out? It’s all about prioritizing the pieces that truly showcase your strengths and align with what colleges are looking for. In this blog post we walk you through how to cut through the clutter and focus on what matters most.

1. Find Your Unique Strengths

The first step in determining which aspects of your application should be out front and center is to get a clear idea of what exactly sets you apart from other applicants. Usually it is not just one activity or one particular achievement, though in certain cases, like high performance athletics, one activity very well may be enough to set you apart. However, generally speaking, think about your personal brand as a condensed version of who you are and how you want to present yourself under tight time constraints. If you only had 30 seconds to speak you probably wouldn’t talk about that one volunteer experience you did two years ago, instead you would focus on the things that are actively shaping your life and the areas in which you are actually contributing and growing. Think about unique hobbies, an unusual combination of skills you may have, or how a significant personal achievement may represent a broader theme in your life. For example, if you won a series of  literary competitions, you may begin thinking about how your application can demonstrate this vein of talent in creative writing not only in terms of competitive winnings but in how you use this skill to contribute meaningfully to your school paper or to the non-profit you volunteer with. By taking a targeted approach to what you would like to highlight in your application, you can actually show colleges the diversity of interests you have through the lens of a memorable theme, like creative writing in this case. 

2. Improve Whats Already Good 

It’s tempting to include every accomplishment and activity you’ve participated in, but a cluttered application can dilute your impact. Quality is far more compelling than a long list of activities. Do you have an activity that is just medicare but one more achievement in that domain could tip it into the exceptional category? Go for it! That volunteer position that you really only did a few times that seems unrelated to the rest of your application? Maybe consider scrapping that entirely. This may seem counterintuitive, but one of the things that college admissions advisors don’t frequently discuss is the fact that some activities, rather than building your admissions profile, can actually cast you in an unfavorable light if they seem haphazardly listed on your application. For example, listing a volunteer position that is unrelated to the rest of your application and which you only worked at for a few weekends can unintentionally convey the message that you are not committed in your work and that you do not have the desired level of dedication admissions officers are looking for. The reality may just be that you were dedicating time elsewhere to something more meaningful to you - so ensure that your college application is highlighting those things instead. 

3. Showcase Growth and Impact

Colleges are interested in seeing how you’ve grown over time and the impact you’ve made. Emphasize experiences where you’ve shown significant growth or made a meaningful contribution. For example, if you started as a member of a community service club and later took on a leadership role, highlight this progression and the results of your efforts.Just as you will later find in the resume building process, being able to list quantitative metrics of success is generally most impressive. Numbers offer concrete evidence of your accomplishments and can make your achievements more tangible to the reader. For example, if you managed to grow your debate club’s membership from 5 to 45 students, this demonstrates your ability to inspire and attract others, as well as your skill in managing and expanding initiatives. If you organized a food drive that provided meals to 200 families, you not only highlight your organizational skills but also underscore the significant, positive impact you had on many lives.

4. Understand Your Audience 

Effective marketing of your achievements involves more than just listing them; it's about framing them in a way that underscores their relevance to the specific college's ethos. Use each application to showcase how your experiences reflect the school's mission and how you can contribute to its community in a meaningful way. This targeted approach not only demonstrates your interest and effort but also helps you stand out as a candidate who is both thoughtful and aligned with the institution’s goals. Before writing your supplemental essays or sitting down to answer any school-specific questions, do some research into the culture of the school and their values. When thinking about the values of the school, don’t simply read their mission statement. Instead, look at the academic areas that they prioritize, the way they describe different school programs, and the typical admitted student profile. This will give you the opportunity to package your achievements, experiences, and activities in a way that is tailored to what the school is looking for. 

5. Authenticity is Key

While it’s important to tailor your application to fit the college’s values, authenticity should always be your guiding principle. Don’t remove activities in which you’ve had substantial achievement or that you are extremely passionate about just because you think it may not fit with the college’s overall image. Admissions officers can often spot disingenuous applications, and staying true to who you are while still taking into account the values of admissions officers will ultimately make for a more compelling and sincere application.