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The Student Portrait Sheet (SPS) is arguably the most important component of your TJ application. It's your chance to show evaluators who you are beyond grades and test scores—your passions, your thinking, your unique perspective. Yet every year, we see talented students undermine their applications by making the same preventable mistakes.
After reviewing thousands of SPS responses over the years, we've identified the five most common errors that hurt applications. The good news? Every one of these mistakes is fixable. Here's what to watch for and how to strengthen your responses.
Mistake #1: Listing Activities Instead of Showing Impact
The Resume Dump
Many students treat the SPS like a resume, cramming in every activity, award, and accomplishment they can think of. The result reads like a bulleted list rather than a meaningful portrait.
Here's the problem: evaluators aren't looking for the most activities. They're looking for depth, passion, and genuine engagement. A student who has done one thing with real commitment and reflection is more compelling than one who has done ten things superficially.
"I'm involved in Math Olympiad, Science Bowl, robotics club, student council, debate team, and volunteer at the library. I've won several awards including..."
"When our robotics team's motor burned out during a competition, I discovered something unexpected: I loved the problem-solving more than the winning. I spent the next three months learning about motor mechanics, eventually redesigning our power system..."
- Choose 1-2 experiences to explore deeply rather than mentioning many briefly
- Focus on what you learned or how you changed, not just what you did
- Include specific moments or realizations that reveal your thinking
- Show the "why" behind your involvement, not just the "what"
Mistake #2: Writing What You Think Evaluators Want to Hear
The "Perfect Student" Persona
Students often craft responses designed to match what they imagine TJ is looking for: relentless passion for STEM, no weaknesses, constant success. The result is responses that feel manufactured and interchangeable.
Evaluators read thousands of applications. They can spot a performative response immediately. Worse, when everyone tries to sound like the "ideal TJ student," no one stands out.
The most memorable applications aren't the ones with the most impressive accomplishments—they're the ones where a real person comes through.
"I have always been passionate about STEM. From a young age, I knew I wanted to pursue science and technology. My dream is to attend TJ and eventually become a researcher who changes the world..."
"I used to hate math. In fifth grade, I would cry before every test. What changed was a summer when I got obsessed with building a tree fort and realized I needed geometry to make the roof work. Suddenly, angles weren't abstract—they were the difference between a roof that held and one that leaked..."
- Write about what genuinely interests you, even if it seems unconventional
- Include struggles, failures, or moments of uncertainty—these make you human
- Avoid clichés like "passionate about STEM" or "dream of changing the world"
- Ask yourself: "Would this response be true for 100 other applicants?" If yes, dig deeper
Mistake #3: Being Too General or Abstract
The Abstract Response
Students write in broad generalizations without concrete details, specific examples, or vivid moments. The response says something technically true but reveals nothing distinctive about the applicant.
General statements like "I'm a hard worker" or "I enjoy solving problems" could apply to almost any TJ applicant. They tell evaluators nothing about you specifically.
"I believe that perseverance is important for success. When I face challenges, I work hard to overcome them. I've learned that failure is just an opportunity to grow and that with enough effort, anything is possible."
"My first attempt at coding a game ended with an error message I didn't understand. After three days of debugging (and one almost-thrown laptop), I found the problem: a single missing semicolon. I've never felt so frustrated and so satisfied in the same moment. Now I actually enjoy debugging—it's like being a detective in my own code."
- Use specific examples with concrete details (names, numbers, moments)
- Show, don't tell: instead of saying you're curious, describe a time curiosity drove your actions
- Include sensory details and specific emotions when describing experiences
- If you could swap in another student's name and the response would still work, it's too general
Mistake #4: Ignoring the Actual Question
The Pre-Written Response
Some students prepare responses in advance and try to fit them to whatever questions appear, regardless of whether they actually address what's being asked. Evaluators can tell when a response is tangentially related rather than directly answering the prompt.
Each SPS question is designed to reveal something specific about applicants. When you force a pre-prepared answer into a question it doesn't fit, you miss the opportunity to show the quality that question was designed to uncover.
- Read each question carefully and identify exactly what it's asking
- Underline key words in the prompt (challenge, learned, changed, etc.)
- Structure your response to directly address each component of the question
- After writing, re-read the question and verify your response actually answers it
- Be prepared to brainstorm fresh responses rather than relying solely on prepared material
Mistake #5: Poor Structure and Unclear Writing
The Stream-of-Consciousness Response
Under time pressure, students often write responses that jump between ideas, lack clear organization, or bury the main point. Even good content can be undermined by poor presentation.
Evaluators read many applications in a short time. A response that's hard to follow, regardless of its content, creates extra cognitive work. That's not a barrier you want to add.
- Start with your most compelling point: Don't bury the lead
- Use a clear structure: Setup → Experience/Challenge → Reflection/Growth
- One paragraph, one idea: Don't try to cover too much ground
- End with insight: Your conclusion should reveal something you learned or how you changed
- Proofread: Typos and grammatical errors are easily preventable and suggest carelessness
Bonus: The Underlying Issue
Most of these mistakes stem from a single root cause: not spending enough time on reflection before writing.
Students rush to fill the page without first thinking deeply about what makes them distinctive, what experiences have genuinely shaped them, and what they actually want to communicate. The SPS isn't a test of writing speed—it's an invitation to share your authentic self.
The best SPS responses aren't the ones with the fanciest vocabulary or most impressive activities. They're the ones where a thoughtful, self-aware student comes through clearly.
Before you write a single word, spend time thinking: What experiences have genuinely changed how I think? When have I surprised myself? What am I curious about that most people my age aren't? The answers to these questions are the foundation of compelling SPS responses.
- Depth over breadth: Focus on 1-2 experiences with genuine insight rather than listing many activities
- Authenticity wins: Be yourself, not who you think TJ wants you to be
- Specificity matters: Concrete details and specific moments are more compelling than generalizations
- Answer the question: Don't force pre-prepared responses; address what's actually being asked
- Clear structure: Make your response easy to follow with a logical flow
- Reflect first, write second: Time spent thinking before writing pays off in the final product
What Strong SPS Responses Have in Common
When we look at the SPS responses of students who are admitted to TJ, we consistently see these qualities:
- Self-awareness: They demonstrate honest reflection on their own growth, challenges, and learning
- Genuine voice: They sound like a real person, not a polished press release
- Intellectual curiosity: They show how they think about problems and ideas
- Concrete examples: They support claims with specific, memorable details
- Clear communication: They're well-organized and easy to follow
None of these qualities require extraordinary accomplishments. They require thoughtfulness, practice, and a willingness to be vulnerable about who you actually are.
Final Thoughts
The SPS is your opportunity to help evaluators see you as a person, not just an applicant. The students who make the biggest impression aren't the ones with the longest lists of achievements—they're the ones who share something genuine about how they think, what they care about, and who they're becoming.
Review your SPS responses with these five mistakes in mind. Ask yourself: Am I showing depth or just listing? Am I being authentic or performing? Am I specific or vague? Am I answering the question? Is my writing clear?
If you can honestly answer these questions well, your SPS will be stronger than most.
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