This exercise is simple, but extremely effective.

Step 1: Make a list of all the things you want colleges to know about you.

How? You can do this either:

in a bulletpoint format (organized, easy to read)
on a blank sheet of paper (with drawings, get creative)
on a timeline (see drawing below)

Note: I don’t recommend a stream-of-consciousness free-write because this tends to get a little messy. By “messy” I mean that this tends to bring forth a lot of words but not a lot of specific, bullet-pointable qualities that will help you get into college.

And that’s the point of this list: to provide your counselor (or yourself) with a solid list of qualities, values and cool stuff that will help get you into college.

Reason #1 that this list is a good idea: It generates a list of details and possible topics for your personal statement, supplements, activities list and additional info section.

Tips for creating a great list:

Have fun. This doesn’t have to be a chore. It’s you basically making a list of everything that's awesome about who you are and what you've done, which can be pretty darn affirming.
Create the list with a parent or friend. Say to him/her: “Hey, I’m trying to make a list of all the reasons why any college should love me as much as you do—can you help?”
Back up general stuff with specific examples. If, for instance, you’re like, “I can motivate people!” or "I stick with things I'm passionate about!" provide a specific example that backs up your claim--or better yet, both claims! (Like the fact that you helped raise debate membership from 19 to 96 at your school over four years.)

Step 2: Once you’ve created your list:

If it’s a bullet-pointed list, upload it to a Google doc and…
If it’s a drawing or timeline, take a photo of it, email it to yourself, upload it to Google a doc and…

SHARE the Google doc with your friend/parent/counselor (whoever is helping you with your applications and ask that person: “Can you help me make sure that all this stuff makes it into my application?”

Wait, can I do this once my application is almost finished?
Absolutely. In fact, this will provide a checklist for making sure all the important parts of you are represented somewhere in the application.

Another great brainstorming exercise: The 21 Details Exercise

Step 3: Decide with your counselor where the information should go in your application.

Some options include your:

Main Statement
Activities List
Additional Info section
Extracurricular essay (required only for some schools)
Another supplemental essay (required only for some schools)

Pop Quiz:
Which of the following details would you NOT include on your application? Which details would you DEFINITELY include? For those details you'd include, on which part of the application do you think each one should go?

I am half Filipino and half Egyptian
I travel a lot (have been to countless countries such as Egypt, the Philippines, Netherlands, Italy, Jamaica, Bahamas, Mexico, Guam, etc….)
I have played the violin for over 11 years and I LOVE IT
I can also play the piano
I do canoe paddling year round. We once saw dolphins swimming by us as we paddled out deep in the ocean.
I have an entrepreneurial mind. I made $300 in a week selling coffee at my dads office when I was 7. I named the booth the “Coffee Cafe” and had my own menu with various drinks as well as a bean grinder. I ended up donating all of the profits to my missionary friend Kate who was leaving for India. When I was 12 I made $70 selling online ebooks about basketball that I wrote. I painted curb address numbers for neighbors when I was 11 and made about $100 off of that.
I like weightlifting. I also sell supplements to my friends at school. I buy them in bulk online and mix some, for example, whey with creatine, and re-brand them (not FDA approved, uh-oh) and sell them for profit.
I tend to bypass the system (and get away with it a lot) such as sending money to paypal directly from VISA (even though they say it isn’t possible) or finding a way to get past the school’s online filter
I love reading (my bookshelf is stacked)

Note: there's no "right" answer for where each of these details should go. No magic formula. Your goal is to make sure your application shows you off in the most complete way possible.

In case you're curious, my list might have looked something like this when I was 17:

I moved around a lot as a kid and lived in several different countries.
I’m a theater nerd and have won some awards for doing theater. Have also won some speech and debate awards. (I basically see speech and debate as a chance to do more theater.)
I would love to travel at some point while I’m in college (study abroad, maybe).
I’m looking for a school that will allow me to produce my own theatrical works.
I’m excited to be in an environment that has other motivated people who love words (I feel like I don’t know too many of those people in my high school—most of my friends who love poetry I’ve met online).
I’m excited for changing seasons (in Miami it’s basically just hot and humid).
I’m excited to be able to make my own schedule in college.
I’m excited to say up late talking with other people about Big Ideas.
I’m excited to live in a dorm.
I’m not sure what I want to do when I grow up, but I think it has something to do with writing and/or performing.
My grades were impacted by my switching schools (didn’t have access to certain Honors and AP courses), so I don’t feel like they are an accurate reflection of my potential.
I’ve worked on some student films in college and am currently working on my first feature-length screenplay (to be filmed this summer).
I love films and consider myself a (kind of) aficionado on 90s films (mostly because I work at a video store).
I love being inspired and inspiring others.
I’ve had a few leadership roles in high school, but the most meaningful has been in Theater.
I’m a huge chess fan and often will play on my free time (at lunch, after school), and sometimes in class once I’ve finished all my work.
I attended a private missionary kid school in 9th grade, a private Christian school in Miami for 10th grade, then moved to public school in 11th grade for more opportunities (gifted program, more opportunities to do theater), but also just to meet more people.
I love helping people—usually this means teaching my younger siblings things—but also through community service (Special Olympics, volunteering through church, etc.).
I love reading and writing poetry. I also love creative writing and won an award from my English teacher for my essays.
I’m excited to go out of state for college. My parents have been cool, but I’m looking forward to the adventure.