4 answers
5
Questions
Asked
571 views
How should I present my college application??
Do I start listing all of my outside of school activities to colleges and mass brag? Should I be humble and not go there? How should one present themselves with college applications.
Login to comment
4 answers
Updated
Folayemi’s Answer
Hi James,
You absolutely should list your extracurricular activities and achievements because colleges genuinely want to see who you are beyond your grades. That is not bragging, that is giving them the full picture of what you bring to their campus. Most applications have a dedicated section for this so fill it out thoroughly and do not leave anything out thinking it is too small.
Where tone matters most is in your personal essay. The best essays are not about listing accomplishments but about telling a genuine story that reveals your character and perspective. Instead of saying you are a great leader, describe a specific moment where you led something and what you learned from it. Specific details and authentic reflection always land better than broad claims about yourself.
Think of your entire application as telling one clear and cohesive story about who you are from multiple angles. Confidence and specificity will always stand out more than trying to sound impressive.
You absolutely should list your extracurricular activities and achievements because colleges genuinely want to see who you are beyond your grades. That is not bragging, that is giving them the full picture of what you bring to their campus. Most applications have a dedicated section for this so fill it out thoroughly and do not leave anything out thinking it is too small.
Where tone matters most is in your personal essay. The best essays are not about listing accomplishments but about telling a genuine story that reveals your character and perspective. Instead of saying you are a great leader, describe a specific moment where you led something and what you learned from it. Specific details and authentic reflection always land better than broad claims about yourself.
Think of your entire application as telling one clear and cohesive story about who you are from multiple angles. Confidence and specificity will always stand out more than trying to sound impressive.
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach, Mentor
1221
Answers
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi James,
Every application, e.g. common app vs individual college applications, is going to be a bit different. You'll need to read the instructions carefully to make sure you cover the things they want and enter information into the right box.
But, yes, generally there is a form where you can enter your extracurriculars and awards. The number of slots available to you is usually limited, so you'll list the best ones if you have more than that. Another place to mention accomplishments is in your essays. Try not to repeat information that can already be found in another section, but if an essay prompt is suitable to talk about accomplishments and passion projects you can expand on it. Remember, the admission office wants to learn about you as a whole person and what you bring to the school. Use your extracurriculars to let the admission office know who you are.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Every application, e.g. common app vs individual college applications, is going to be a bit different. You'll need to read the instructions carefully to make sure you cover the things they want and enter information into the right box.
But, yes, generally there is a form where you can enter your extracurriculars and awards. The number of slots available to you is usually limited, so you'll list the best ones if you have more than that. Another place to mention accomplishments is in your essays. Try not to repeat information that can already be found in another section, but if an essay prompt is suitable to talk about accomplishments and passion projects you can expand on it. Remember, the admission office wants to learn about you as a whole person and what you bring to the school. Use your extracurriculars to let the admission office know who you are.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Updated
Tiarra’s Answer
Hi James. Yes, you should mention your extracurricular activities and how you balance this with your schoolwork because you're already showcasing great time management skills and be sure to mention that you are practicing time management by staying on top of your schoolwork and participating in extracurricular activities. Also, you should highlight any challenges or setbacks you've faced in life during your pursuit in your current education; this will show the committee that you are capable of academically succeeding despite unexpected and inevitable obstacles and be sure to relate this information to education but don't be afraid to be personal because these institutions want to know who you are as a person and how you will add to the campus environment. When writing this essay, please utilize the free-version of writing resources like Grammarly to ensure that your writing is descriptive, visual, and understandable to your readers; utilizing grammar resources helps you become familiar with writing expectations on the college-level because it is quite different than high school writing expectations. When writing this essay, it is important to be descriptive, not only will you clearly make your point, you will get into the habit of meeting word limit requirements that you will see in college.
Updated
Yoav’s Answer
It is totally normal to feel conflicted about how to talk about your achievements, but you should definitely see your college application as a place to be your own best advocate rather than worrying about appearing like you are bragging. The goal isn't to just list every single thing you have ever done in a massive pile, but rather to curate the activities that actually mean something to you and show where you have spent your genuine time and energy. Admissions officers are looking for a clear picture of who you are and what you care about, so it is much better to focus on the impact you made and what you learned from those experiences instead of just trying to impress them with a long title. Being honest and descriptive about your contributions isn't being arrogant; it is just giving them the information they need to understand your potential and how you will fit into their campus community. You have worked hard to get to this point and you deserve to have those accomplishments recognized for exactly what they are. I know you are going to find the perfect balance between sharing your success and staying true to your personality, so keep your head up and good luck.