About this episode

Anna and Mark discuss with Sam Joustra how admissions officers review student activities and resumes, sharing tips and insights from her experience.

This week on The College Admissions Podcast, Anna and Mark chat with Sam Joustra from Collegewise for an insider’s perspective on how admissions officers review student activities and resumes. Drawing from her experience at Vanderbilt and the University of Michigan, Sam reveals what truly stands out—and what doesn’t—when admissions teams assess extracurriculars and leadership roles. Together, they bust common resume myths and share actionable tips for making your activities shine authentically, no matter your background. Tune in for practical advice and empowering stories to help you showcase your real impact and personal growth.

People in this episode

Hosts: Anna Ren, Mark Hofer

Guest: Sam Joustra

Topics covered

• college admissions
• student activities
• resumes
• extracurriculars
• leadership roles
• admissions process

Keywords

• college admissions
• student activities
• resumes
• extracurriculars
• leadership
• admissions tips
• personal growth

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Collegewise, Vanderbilt, University of Michigan

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