What are common pitfalls to avoid in my college essays?

Worrying about essay pitfalls is smart because how you approach your topic can really set you apart. Some of the most common traps students fall into are:

1. Writing about Overdone Topics in Predictable Ways: Experiences like sports injuries, winning (or losing) the big game, moving schools, or volunteering are all fine as starting points, but if your story only focuses on "I worked hard and learned to help others," it won’t stand out. For example, working at a food bank can be meaningful, but avoid a generic summary of helping people and realizing the importance of gratitude.

2. Telling Instead of Showing: If you end up explaining how you’re compassionate or hardworking instead of illustrating those qualities through a specific story or vivid details, your essay can feel flat. Try to create scenes or give concrete examples (one memorable shift at the food bank, a tricky conversation with someone you helped, or an unexpected lesson you learned from a colleague).

3. Lack of Personal Reflection: Admissions officers want to see how a moment changed you, not just what happened. Describe how the food bank experience affected your worldview, made you realize something about yourself, or sparked a new interest. It’s more effective to focus on a turning point or single moment rather than a broad summer.

4. Using Cliché Phrases: Avoid sayings like "I realized I could do anything I set my mind to," or "This taught me the true meaning of hard work." Instead, be authentic and use your natural voice. Don’t try to sound like the world’s youngest philosopher.

5. Overpolishing or Overselling: Your writing should sound like you, not a thesaurus or a Hallmark card. Keep it clear, sincere, and free from exaggeration or vocabulary you wouldn’t use in conversation.

If writing about your food bank work, consider narrowing in on a single interaction or problem you solved, showing how it impacted you on a deeper level. Admissions officers read thousands of essays—a specific, genuine moment will stick in their minds more than a generic summary.

Finally, ask yourself: Could someone else have written my essay? If yes, look for ways to make it even more personal. Best of luck!