In the world of university admissions, applicants face a challenge familiar to professionals at any stage of their careers:

How do you stand out — authentically — in a crowded field?

The answer lies in personal branding.

Last week, as part of the Futures Team at St. Catherine’s, I delivered a session titled “Personal Branding for University Applications.” I began by explaining that you cannot brand yourself effectively unless you first take the time to dive inward — to explore your strengths, interests, values, and purpose. Only then can you craft an application that feels authentic and aligned.

This is the true advantage of strong personal branding: it transforms applications from a list of achievements into a meaningful narrative that connects.

In truth, the ability to reflect, articulate your values, and tailor your story to your audience are not just application strategies — they are life skills. These are essential for anyone seeking to grow, apply, present, or pivot in an increasingly competitive world.

So, where should you begin?

Here’s a step-by-step approach to help you build your personal brand — and craft stronger, more authentic university applications:

Start With the Right Questions

Your personal brand is more than your academic record. Think of it as the intersection of three spaces:

🔸 Work – Your academic and professional experiences
🔸 Life – What you enjoy doing for fun
🔸 World – How you engage with your community, causes, or audience — and the purpose that drives you

Ask yourself: which of these areas do you know well, and which do you need to reflect on more?

Step 1: Discover Yourself

Before you write a single application, ask:

What do people say about me when I leave the room?

What impression does my application leave behind?

Start identifying your strengths, values, interests, and purpose.
This will become the foundation of your essays, interviews, and CV. You can’t create a powerful message until you know what that message is.

Step 2: Understand Your Audience

Great personal branding isn’t just about you — it’s also about fit.

Use tools like ChatGPT to research what different universities and programs care about. Try prompts like:

“Summarise what [University Name] looks for in undergraduate applicants.”

“Create a table showing their priorities across academics, extracurriculars, and personal qualities.”

Compare schools like Harvard and MIT:
Harvard may value leadership and service, while MIT prioritises innovation and problem-solving.

Pro Tip: Admissions officers are people. They care about your story, not just your scores. Keep them in mind as you craft your message.

Step 3: Tell the Right Stories

Choose 3–4 personal stories that:

✔ Express your values
✔ Showcase meaningful action
✔ Demonstrate alignment with your chosen universities

Strong personal branding is specific. If your story could belong to anyone, it probably won’t stand out.

Focus on depth, not breadth. Don’t try to list everything you’ve done. Instead, highlight the experiences that truly matter — both to you and to the people reading your application. And remember: it’s just as important to apply to universities that fit you.

From Theory to Practice — The ChatGPT CV Evaluation Exercise

To apply these ideas, try this ChatGPT-powered CV exercise at home:

Research what the university is looking for
Prompt: “Summarise what [University Name] looks for using its official website.”

Compare your CV to their values
Prompt: “Compare my CV to [University]’s priorities. Highlight strengths, gaps, and suggestions in a table.”

Rewrite your experience using elite standards
Prompt: “Rewrite this CV entry using action verbs and reflect values like leadership, initiative, and service.”

Identify strong essay topics
Prompt: “Which of these experiences could be developed into strong personal statements or supplement essays?”

This framework helps you strengthen your application materials — and prepares you to tell your story with confidence and clarity.

Final Thoughts

Personal branding isn’t about becoming someone you’re not.

It’s about knowing yourself well enough to express who you are in a way that resonates with the opportunities you’re pursuing.

So ask yourself:
• What do I stand for?
• Who needs to know it?
• And what will they remember after I leave the room?