My wife and I used to frequent a local Italian restaurant when we lived in California. It was our go-to spot for Date Night and the place that we’d always bring any out-of-town guests. And I think it was the only restaurant I ever told multiple people that they had to try.

Here’s the thing—the food was just average. What made this place so noteworthy, to me and to the crowds who showed up every night, was the experience.

The entire staff, from the host to the servers to the owner who always made his way around the tables to say hello, was effusively friendly and welcoming. You felt like you had just made their day by showing up. It’s hard to describe in writing how contagious genuine enthusiasm is.

They didn’t take reservations, but who cared when a cheerful hostess showed up regularly with a glass of wine and some focaccia while you were waiting?

The servers knew every dish. They all had their favorites. And they couldn’t wait to tell you whatever you wanted to know about the food and how it was prepared.

The vibe made every night out feel like a special occasion. In fact, we ate there once a week when the economy crashed in 2009 because it always helped me to enjoy a night out, worry-free. That’s a tall order for a small business serving dishes as common as spaghetti and meatballs.

There are two college admissions-related reasons I’m sharing this:

1. They weren’t trying to please everybody.

The foodie with the discerning palate, the selective diner who wants white linens and formality, the trend-seeker looking for the hot spot the celebrities frequent—this place wasn’t for them and it didn’t try to be. Rather than try to please everybody (which you can never do), they relentlessly focused on doing what they could do better than just about everyone, and they pleased the segment of customers who were looking for just that.

2. They were remarkable.

There were probably a hundred Italian restaurants in that county, and you could find similar or much better food at just about any of them. But if you wanted this experience at an Italian restaurant in this town, there was only one place to get it.

High school students, put your energy into things you enjoy. Bring your best self to them in a way that nobody else could. Then find the right colleges that are predisposed to appreciate you for exactly who you are, whether or not they’re prestigious.

Do it consciously, and you’ll have plenty of colleges wanting you to dine on their campuses as a student.