Few people know or can articulate what makes an exceptional application.
Even when I was working on the college side of the admissions process, I could identify an exceptional application, but I couldn't quite describe what made it so. When I switched to the high school side of the process and I had to make things abundantly clear to my students, I found the words to express exactly what makes an application special.
It is what I call, "layering."
Layering occurs when I learn something new about the student in each piece of their application. For example, the student lets their activities shine in the activities section; they don't write essays about them. If there are multiple essays required by a college, the student writes about distinct topics for each one. When the student provides information to each of their letter-writers (sometimes through a "brag sheet"), they create distinct answers for each one so that every letter submitted says something fresh about the student. It's like uncovering a treasure-trove of personal attributes, experiences, and ideas about one student.
Pulling this off requires tremendous intentionality, self-awareness, and creativity about oneself. This forces the student to map out all their layers in advance, well before they submit an application. But when they do, there is this beautiful layering effect that takes place in their application. And the admissions officer reading it is not just intrigued, they are totally engaged—and they actually read the full application.
An admissions officer is never bored reading a layered application because there is this uncharacteristic multi-dimensional quality to it. A layered application demonstrates maturity, and it is rare.
The opposite of layering is hammering, though. Hammering is when a student keeps repeating the same themes, topics, and references again and again throughout their application. They write their main essay about an activity. Or, they write about similar topics for multiple supplemental essays for the same college. Or, the same brag sheet that the student filled out to help their school counselor write a letter of recommendation is sent to both of their teachers who are writing letters of recommendation for them. This translates into a one-dimensional application. It might work for a rare admissions officer or an even rarer college that responds well to a one-note application. But most of the time, the application falls flat on that one note.
READ MORE: My New Strategy for Ordering Your Activities on the Common App
Layering takes a lot more time, a lot more effort, and a lot more creativity to pull off. But the students who do it see significantly better results. Layering shows depth and range. It makes me sit back, in awe of the student. I know it when I see it. I also know how to create it.
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