Follow the instructions.

Read the instructions carefully, then follow them. We thought about them a lot, and we think they'll help you introduce yourself to us in the most effective way for this process.

Don't upload a resume as an "additional information" supplement.

See the point above. We will not review a resume at best, at worse it may be interpreted as not following instructions.

4 is the limit. Think carefully about what you would like to highlight.

You have had more than four experiences that are meaningful to you, so think about the story you want to tell about yourself to the admissions committee and which engagements fit that characterization. Please choose four activities that are truly meaningful to you. Don't choose the ones you think we want to see. Remember, just because you did something for a long time doesn't make it valuable. Choose the four that will help us get to know you.

Use acronyms and abbreviations carefully.

We can probably figure out what it means if you said you were the VP of a group, but other acronyms and abbreviations can be locally or regionally specific. Don't let the admissions committee fall victim to jargon.

List the name of the actual group, employer, etc. in the first line of the activity, when applicable.

We want to see specific organizations or activities you're involved in here. That helps us get to know you much better. It also leaves you more space in the "Participation Details" line to give us your actual position or roles. We know some independent activities, such as hobbies, don't have an overarching organization you are involved with, and in that case it's fine to give us more of a descriptor (e.g. "independent genealogy research").