Imagine this: you’re watching a movie that has great character development and a building storyline so naturally you have high hopes and can’t wait to see how it ends. But right before the plot thickens a new movie begins with a slow introduction and a scenic view of New York City. 

You would be shocked and confused right? Well, this is how admission officers feel when applicants introduce too many different points in their essays and interviews.

Coming at multiple angles makes it difficult to effectively convey your message and wastes the time you do have to make your 30-second elevator pitch.  

Keep in mind that it is your job to deliver your message well so if admission officers have to work harder to decipher it then there is a good chance they won’t. 

Remember, they have thousands of other applications to vet and are looking for any reason to shorten this stack so if you don’t present yourself well then you’ll be sent to the chopping block.

The art of writing amazing essays and giving awesome interviews is like producing a blockbuster movie. That is, the story needs to be coherent and interesting to the viewers otherwise they will just get up and leave. 

Your audience wants to be moved, put in awe, or pushed to the edge of their seats but introducing new tangents deprives them of this opportunity.

Not sticking to the script is a common mistake made by applicants and is a major reason why many are axed early in the process when it could have been easily avoided. 

So what do I mean by this? How do you know what your “script” is?

Well, a script consists of three components: (1) overall message, (2) “sticking” point, and (3) theme.

First, your overall message is what you want to convey in your essays or interviews. You must narrate a single, cohesive story of who you are as a person, what your academic and occupational goals are, and why you are a good fit for the university.

Specify how your experiences and extracurriculars shaped your interests and how they align with the university and its mission. 

In my college essays, I chose to focus on my childhood struggles because it had a profound impact in molding my interests academically and career-wise.

My goal is to become a research psychologist to help children in similar situations cope with depression and suicidality. I also want to develop better ways to predict and assess future suicide crises.

Knowing this, I made every effort to apply to colleges with similar research programs so I can refer to professors whose lab I am interested in joining. 

Be sure to also address how these activities meet all of the major points colleges look for in applicants and frame it in a way that separates you from the rest. 

Related: Read this article to learn what major areas colleges look for in an applicant and how you can leverage it to your advantage.

Are you a first-generation college student? Do you come from a family of immigrants? Are you a single parent? Are you from a low-income background? Did you serve in the armed forces?

It helps to humanize yourself and remind them of who you are. Most colleges give bonus points for diversity so use it to your advantage.

Overall, the goal of effective messaging is to encourage admission officers to have a vested interest in your cause and to vouch on your behalf. The more cheerleaders you have on this committee, the better your chances of winning that acceptance letter. 

The second component of your script is your “sticking” point or an aspect of your application you want to emphasize. 

Where do you want the camera lens to focus on? Do you want to highlight the hats you wear, a specific major area, or extracurriculars you were involved in?

In my case, my research experience was the sticking point because it was related to my goals of becoming a researcher.

Choose a sticking point that will add to your authenticity because remember you want to encourage admission officers to root for your cause and become your cheerleader.

The point is to control the narrative surrounding your candidacy while hitting all of the major areas. This way, you can highlight your strengths and put yourself in a better light.

The final component of your script is your theme. What’s your angle or how do you want to convey your message?

There are four themes you can choose from: (1) inspirational, (2) emotional, (3) creative, or (4) humor.

Whether you’re writing an uplifting story, a tear-jerker, a creative piece or a comedy, keep in mind that your theme must compliment your essay and should be appropriate for the topic.

I chose the emotional and inspirational themes because I wanted to focus on my childhood struggles and how it strengthened my resolve to help similar children. 

It would not have been appropriate, however, to use humor given the sensitivity of this topic although a creative route could be possible.

Long story short, stick to your script and prioritize relevance. A successful applicant is one who has a narrowed focus and articulates their message and fit with the program well.

Lastly, be willing to exclude some activities for the sake of staying on point. As painful as it was, I excluded many extracurriculars from my college essays because it would have detracted from my overall message. Remember it is the quality not the quantity that counts.