‍Let’s be honest—sometimes it feels like every successful applicant is a teenage superhero. One started a nonprofit. Another interned at a biotech lab. Someone else built an app that went viral.

And then there’s you.
You like reading, you play on the JV soccer team, maybe you volunteer once a month. You’re proud of what you do, but it doesn’t exactly scream “wow.”

So does that mean you’re out of the running? Absolutely not.

Here’s something admissions officers won’t always say out loud: they’re not looking for a résumé. They’re looking for a person.

They want to see commitment, curiosity, growth.
They want to see that you’ve done what you could with what you had.

Not everyone has access to elite internships or start-up mentors. What matters is how you show up in the spaces that are available to you. Did you stick with something? Did you take initiative? Did you care?

A part-time job, caring for a sibling, helping your community in quiet ways are your "wow" and They’re powerful proof of your responsibility and character.

You don’t need to invent something new to stand out. You just need to be you and tell your story well.

So if you’re worried that your extracurriculars aren’t shiny enough, take a deep breath.

Focus on meaning over prestige. On depth over quantity.

Your application isn’t a contest for the busiest student.
It’s a window into who you are.

And trust me, that version of you is more than enough.