🎯 WHY THESE TWO?

Essays + ECs are where you stand out. In a world of 4.0 GPAs and 1500+ SATs, your narrative and impact profile are your differentiation.

"If you don’t tell your story powerfully, someone with half your stats but twice your clarity will." – Anonymous admissions officer

🔍 DECONSTRUCTION

Let’s break both parts into their core ingredients:

🧠 A. ESSAYS (The Personal Brand)

Sub-Component Key Principle Example Tools
Personal Statement Story-driven, emotionally honest Common App prompt library, essay breakdown frameworks
Theme Thread Core values + voice + angle Essay identity map, “3 Whys” analysis
Supplemental Essays Values-aligned and specific School mission parsing, website reverse-engineering
Editing Rounds 3–4 revisions minimum, layered focus Grammarly, Hemingway, peer/mentor review, Loom feedback

Essay Flow:

  1. Identity Inventory → 2. Anecdote Bank → 3. Core Message → 4. Essay Skeleton → 5. Draft & Refine

🚀 B. EXTRACURRICULARS (The Impact Spike)

Sub-Component Key Principle Example Tools
Breadth vs Depth Prioritize depth → build a spike MIT Tiering System, EC Tracker
Leadership & Initiative Show creation, not just participation Project trackers, digital portfolios
Narrative Integration How your ECs map to your major/mission Thematic linking: “STEM for Good,” “Civic Design,” etc.
Documentation Showcase growth & reflection Notion journal, GitHub, Medium, YouTube recaps

EC Flow:

  1. Audit → 2. Eliminate Fluff → 3. Refine Spike → 4. Package + Document

🧭 SEQUENCING & STRATEGY

Here’s the order of operations to tackle essays and ECs smartly:

1. Build Your Identity Map

Use Notion or pen/paper to answer: