When you apply to college, you might have heard about two types of applications: one that focuses on a specific passion (“spiked”) and another that shows a variety of interests (“well-rounded”). Regardless of which approach you take, it’s important to tell a detailed, impactful, and connected story in your application.

Think of it like writing a good book – your application should include both good and bad experiences, interesting characters and challenges, and a theme that ties everything together.

Let me share an example from my own college application to Princeton. When I was in high school, my family didn’t have a stable place to live. We moved around a lot, and during that time, I always carried heavy bags filled with books like Plato’s Republic and David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest.

At the same time, I was also involved in organizing student activities, concerned about issues like racial injustice and the lack of educational opportunities in my community.

I made sure to include these themes of philosophy, politics, and my family’s financial struggles in every part of my college application – from my extracurricular activities to my essays and recommendation letters.

This helped create a cohesive story that showed the admissions officers who I was, what I cared about, and what I wanted to achieve. In short, my whole application revolved around a central theme – what I’ll call the “application story” – that connected everything together.

A strong application story gives your application a depth that numbers and statistics can’t capture. It gives admissions officers a better understanding of your perspective and what you can bring to the college community.

And most importantly, it shows that your application is more than just a list of achievements – it’s a reflection of who you are, where you’ve come from, and where you want to go in the future.

Crafting a Compelling Personal Narrative

Getting Started

When writing a personal story, it’s helpful to start by figuring out a main theme. For me, I mixed my personal experiences, academic interests, and extracurricular activities with a desire to make a positive impact. But that didn’t mean I had to stick to the usual topics.

I added interesting details like my love for Harry Potter, my struggle with learning new languages, and my fondness for 90s rap music. Once I had the main idea of my application story, I could branch out without losing focus on my main point.

If you’re having trouble getting started, ask yourself these questions: Do any recurring themes naturally come up in your application? How would someone describe you in one sentence based on your application? What are you passionate about? Where do you want to make a difference? Have there been any significant events, interests, or setbacks that have changed your life?

Essays

The easiest way to present a complex, multifaceted application is through essay responses. Many institutions will ask for a personal narrative essay describing challenges, growth, and reflection. The most common (and longest) example of such an essay is the Common App’s Personal Statement. Many institutions, especially the Top 30 universities, require students to write several short essay responses.

These essays require you to write about a variety of topics. They can cover a wide range of themes, such as career goals, important relationships, academic interests, extracurricular activities, personal experiences, and personal beliefs. You can approach the same topic from different angles, like discussing the academic side of a STEM extracurricular in one response and the leadership efforts in the same extracurricular in another. You may also explore something in more detail that you’ve mentioned before in your application. However, avoid discussing the same themes in multiple responses. By including variety, you can provide readers with new information while also highlighting different aspects of your application.

Extracurricular Activities

Extracurricular activities are important for your college application and help you tell your story. When listing them, include activities that take up a lot of your time. Do you help out in your family’s business? Spend time playing sports or practicing music? Hold leadership roles that show what matters to you?

Be creative in showing where you spend your time, as these activities help colleges understand who you are. For example, I once worked with a student who spent a lot of time doing chores at home because they lived with one parent. They talked about this in their application and got into an Ivy League school! So, don’t hesitate to share unique hobbies or experiences—they can make your application stand out.

Recommendation Letters

Recommendation letters can be incredibly helpful in strengthening your application story. You can politely ask a recommender to focus on certain aspects of your application if needed.

For example, when I applied to graduate school, I specifically requested that one recommender highlight my interest in academic subjects. I also encouraged another recommender to discuss my organizational skills, providing them with additional information they could include in their letter.

Final Thoughts

Writing an application narrative is like threading a needle, weaving together the various parts of your application journey such as essays, extracurricular activities, awards, and recommendation letters. Beyond just grades and test scores, Admissions Officers want to see a complete picture of who you are. Your application should tell a cohesive story that reflects your identity and values.

Reflecting on my own application process, I started by telling a story of overcoming hardship. However, it evolved into a story of finding strength through philosophical exploration during tough times. I showed how this strength led me to get involved in political engagement, blending theory with action. Despite worries about my grades and test scores, I believe my narrative helped my application stand out.

Starting your own narrative might seem overwhelming, but it’s as simple as choosing a theme to guide your essay. As you go through each part of your application, you’ll uncover deeper themes. Keep refining your narrative until it accurately reflects who you are.