What are some common mistakes students make in their college essays that I should watch out for?

One of the biggest pitfalls with college essays is drifting into topics or writing styles that fail to tell admissions officers who you are as a person. Here are some of the most common mistakes to be on the lookout for as you write and revise:

1. **Cliché Topics Without a Unique Spin:** Admissions officers read thousands of essays about sports injuries, mission trips, moving to a new school, or overcoming failure. These topics aren't automatically disqualifying, but if your essay sounds like it could have been written by half your graduating class, it likely won't stand out. For example, simply describing how you worked hard to recover from a broken ankle and learned perseverance is very common. Instead, focus on a specific, highly personal moment or a unique result—maybe your injury led you to become a team strategist or start coaching younger players.

2. **Rehashing Your Resume:** Don’t just list your achievements or extracurriculars; that information already appears elsewhere in your application. Use the essay to explore your personality, motivations, or growth through specific anecdotes.

3. **Being Too General or Vague:** Avoid broad statements like "I want to change the world" without giving concrete examples of what that means to you. Admissions officers want details—try focusing on one incident, conversation, or realization, and build your essay around it.

4. **Overusing Big Words or Adopting an Unnatural Voice:** You don't need to impress by using the biggest words you know. Write honestly, in your authentic voice. If your essay sounds like it came from a thesaurus, it’ll feel less personal.

5. **Lack of Reflection:** Events are only meaningful if you reflect on them. Why did your experience matter to you? How did you grow or change as a result? Don't just describe what happened; dig into WHY it was important.

6. **Not Answering the Prompt:** This happens more often than you’d think. Make sure your essay actually addresses the prompt, not just a story you’re excited to tell.

To give an example, someone wrote about their service trip to Costa Rica. The initial draft focused on "helping others" and "discovering another culture," which felt generic. In revision, they zoomed in on the moment they got lost in the town and a local taught them how to cook a dish from scratch. This small story revealed their openness, resourcefulness, and humility—qualities far more memorable than the original generalities.

It’s not inherently bad to write about a sports injury or overcoming failure, as long as your angle is unique and deeply personal. Ask yourself: could someone else write this essay word-for-word? If so, dig deeper for distinctive experiences or perspectives you hold. Focus on moments of self-discovery, conflict, or even confusion, and show us how you worked through them.

Lastly, if you can, get feedback from someone who doesn’t know you well. If they can’t tell what kind of person you are after reading it, time for another revision! You want your final draft to feel like a conversation—one that only you could have.