Every Merit achievement begins with a title and summary. These two items combine to form a home page for your achievement. They appear on your institution's Merit page and are the first things seen when the story is shared on social media. Here's an example of what they look like online:
This page will provide some tips for writing good titles and summaries. Visit our Template Archive to see more samples and get ideas.
Write an Achievement Title
In general, you should keep your title simple. Try to keep it between 50 and 100 characters, if possible. There are a few things every title should include:
- Your school's name or its abbreviation (Merit University or MU)
- The name of the honor or event you are recognizing (Dean's List)
- The semester of the event (Fall 2026) - if applicable
You can use a variety of formats when writing your title. Here are some variations of a dean's list title:
- Merit University Students Make Fall 2026 Dean's List
- MU Announces Fall 2026 Dean's List
- MU Students Named to the Fall 2026 Dean's List
- Merit University Fall 2026 Dean's List
- Students Earn Fall 2026 Dean's List Honors at Merit University
- Students Named to Fall 2026 Merit University Dean's List
Write an Achievement Summary
Your summary should give readers a picture of what this achievement is all about. The students who are part of it all accomplished the same thing and your summary is an introduction for all of them.
If possible, try to write one or two full paragraphs of text. A two- to three-sentence paragraph is perfect in most cases.
Don't try to tell the whole story in your summary but include as many details here as needed. Some important details could include:
- The date/semester of the event (Fall 2026)
- The (approximate) number of students who earned the honors (More than 1,200 students...)
- The basic requirements for any honors the students earned (GPAs, credit hours, etc)
- Flavor text that helps provide a condensed version of your story
- A quote from important school personnel who play a part in the story (Merit University President, Athletic Director, Dean of Students, etc)
Pro Tip: Put your most important bits at the very beginning of your summary to quickly capture readers' attention on social media.
Tips & Tricks
Here are some things to keep in mind while writing your title and summary:
Avoid the Word "Local"
While it's great to have a local angle when you're sending a press release, your online achievement will not contain students who are all from one hometown.
Don't Write a Lead In
Avoid using phrases like "The following students..." and instead open with something like: "Merit University congratulates..."
Keep it Consistent
Once you find a format that you like, try to replicate it with every achievement that you send. This will make it easier to write additional titles and summaries in the future. It also helps keep your institution's Merit page neat, and lets readers scan your achievements more easily.