You know the feeling when you accidentally hit āreply allā on an email meant for one person only? Paste the wrong video link in your work channel, and publicly post your baby cousin in the pool without shorts on? Submit your final essay to your teacher without renaming the file from āBoringGarbageEssay.docā before you send it in?
Making a mistake in a college essay is kind of like making a mistake on an important job application. Itās cringey, but it also has serious consequences. Even with new AI tools and other spell-checking software now available to help you write, certain common errors are still shockingly easy to make ā but hard to look past in the review process. A great essay can help you stand out, but one riddled with mistakes unintentionally sends the wrong message.
So, how do you make sure your essay elevates your application instead of sinking it? As much as knowing what to write, you have to know what not to write. In this guide, weāll explore the most common college essay mistakes, large and small ā and how to avoid them ā so your application shines for all the right reasons.
What you want to avoidā¦
ā¦is a worst-case scenario. But what, exactly, does that look like?
If weāre going to all the trouble of explaining what NOT to write in your college essays, we should also explain the context. Sometimes, our counselors say it best.
Empowerly counselor Kyle C. tells students:
Think of it this way: If an admissions officer has two students who are exactly the same on paper (classes taken, grades, test scores, activities, etc), the essay is often the tie-breaker. The college essay can create a situation where an admissions officer feels like, “I know X student better than Y, and I have a better sense of their fit for our campus and what they might contribute here.”
Empowerly counselor David S. adds:
I always put it this way: Imagine you are an employee in an admissions office and have 50-60 applications to read in a day. It’s 2 PM. You just had lunch. You’re tired and a bit cranky. Second cup of coffee. You’ve read the same 10 essay topics over and over about sports and leadership. The last application made your eyes roll for obvious over-exaggeration. They get to your application in unideal circumstances, order, and things you cannot control as an applicant. Does this admissions officer want to fight for you? Do they feel drawn to you? Are they going to remember you? Are you going to beat the 2 PM energy crash? That’s the goal ā to be interesting enough to stand out at the worst moment of an AO’s day, and to have that story stick out even after.
Convinced? Me too. Let’s get to it!
Avoid clichƩs and overused phrases
First things first; this is a big one. If your college essay starts with, āEver since I was a childā¦ā or āWinning that big game taught me the value of hard work,ā youāre in risky territory. Eyes will glaze over. Admissions officers have seen thousands of essays, and when they start to blur together, itās often because too many sound the same.
Why are clichĆ©s so tempting? They feel safe. They sound ācollege essay appropriateā because youāve heard them before. But hereās the problem: clichĆ©s donāt reveal you. They reveal a version of you thatās been sanded down to fit a template, and thatās not what admissions officers want.
The truth is, theyāre looking for the real you ā and that means your unique perspective, quirks, voice, and experiences, whatever that sounds like.
Examples of clichƩs to avoid
- The āsports injury as life lessonā story
- The āmission trip changed my lifeā essay
- Starting with a famous quote from Einstein, Gandhi, or your coach
- āIāve always known I wanted toā¦ā (especially when the essay is about a major you just discovered last year)
- Dictionary definitions (e.g., āWebsterās defines perseverance asā¦ā)
With a little digging, you can find plenty more examples of these hackneyed topics. But hereās what it boils down to: these arenāt bad topics because sports, service, or perseverance are unworthy. Theyāre problematic because thousands of students use them the same way, often with generic takeaways. You can do better than that!
How to stand out instead
Focus on small, personal moments that no one else could write about. Instead of summarizing the life lessons from your championship win, maybe write about how repeatedly missing free throws taught you about patience ā and how that carried over to learning guitar. Instead of starting with a quote, start with your own words and voice.
- Before (common): āWinning the state championship taught me perseverance.ā
- After (revised): āStanding at the free-throw line, I realized that missing three shots in a row was teaching more about patience and courage than any win ever had.ā
The best essays make admissions officers feel like theyāve met you. If they finish reading and say, āThis couldāve been anyoneās essay,ā itās time to dig deeper for something uniquely yours.
Donāt lose focus and coherence
Admissions officers read hundreds of essays during application season, and an essay that feels scattered or unclear can quickly lose their attention. Not to mention, you have a strict word count, and therefore limited space ā you can hardly afford to waste any! Keep your eyes on the prize here.
Create a clear narrative
A strong essay feels like it has a beginning, middle, and end. The beginning draws the reader in, the middle develops a central theme or story, and the end reflects on why it matters. Of course, it doesnāt have to be perfectly linear. But without this overall structure, your essay can feel like a series of disconnected anecdotes.
Hereās how one admissions expert at Empowerly explains it:
Think of your essay like a photo album: you want each picture to be related, not a random mix of unrelated images. A focused essay keeps your reader engaged and helps them clearly see the message youāre trying to share woven throughout.
Avoid tangets
Itās easy to want to pack everything about yourself into one essay, but less is often more. Choose one main idea and build around it. Admissions officers want depth, not a rĆ©sumĆ© in paragraph form. Make sure that every sentence supports your theme.
Ask yourself:
- Does every sentence support my main point?
- Can a stranger summarize my main point in one sentence?
- Would someone whoās never met me understand something real about who I am?
Eliminate grammatical and spelling errors
A well-written essay signals attention to detail and respect for the admissions officerās time. Errors ā no matter how small ā can make an otherwise strong essay feel rushed or careless.
Frequent typos or awkward sentences distract from your story and can raise questions about your effort. Or, you know, forgetting to change the name of the college in your essay. (Yes, itās happened.) If youāre not careful, a missing word or misplaced comma could even change the meaning of a sentence.
Donāt skip the editing phase! At the very least, ask yourself:
- Is my voice authentic, or am I using āapplication speakā (buzzwords)?
- Does it sound like me, or like Iām trying to impress?
- Are there any generic phrases I can rewrite?
- Are there any cliches, typos, or name mix-ups from another school?
Proofreading strategies:
- Read aloud: Youāll often catch missing words or confusing phrasing when you hear your essay.
- Get a second pair of eyes: Have a teacher, friend, or family member review it. A fresh perspective can spot what youāve overlooked.
- Use tools wisely: Spell check and grammar tools are helpful, but donāt rely on them completely. They may miss context-specific errors or stylistic issues.
- Take a break before editing: Step away from your essay for a day and come back with fresh eyes. Youāll spot issues you missed before.
A professional touch
You donāt have to do this alone. If you want even more peace of mind, consider expert feedback. College essay reviewers can help ensure your grammar and overall flow support your message instead of undermining it.
Sidestep oversharing (or controversial topics for shock value)
Your essay is an intimate chance to share your personal perspective ā but not every detail of your life belongs in an admissions file. Oversharing, or choosing polarizing topics without reason, can shift the focus away from your character and growth.
Finding the right balance
Itās natural to want to be authentic, but thereās a difference between being honest and sharing too much. Instead, focus on what the experience taught you or how you grew from it. You can write about meaningful challenges without detailing every painful moment, and you can show passion for an issue without alienating your reader.
Consider your audience
Admissions officers are looking to understand who you are as a student, peer, and community member. Keeping your content appropriate and thoughtful shows maturity and self-awareness ā which are qualities every college values.
Steer clear of humblebrag or self-aggrandizement
Itās natural to want to impress admissions officers. After all, this is your chance to showcase your achievements and demonstrate why youād be a great addition to their campus. But thereās a fine line between confidence and arrogance, and crossing it can leave a bad aftertaste.
How to share accomplishments the right way
Instead of centering on the achievement itself, focus on what you learned along the way. Admissions officers want to see evidence of growth and reflection, not a list of accolades.
Quick tips
- Show humility by acknowledging othersā contributions to your success.
- Share personal insights about what the experience taught you or how it shaped your future goals.
- Use honest language. Let your story speak for itself instead of overemphasizing titles or statistics.
If youāre looking for more examples, check out this video on other specific things that can undermine the impact of your essay:
Address application inconsistencies and red flags
Your college application tells a story across multiple pieces ā your grades, activities, recommendations, and essays all work together to present a picture of who you are. If those pieces donāt align, admissions officers may be left with questions you donāt want them asking.
Why consistency matters
Itās always the best policy to be honest. But there are other ways inconsistency shows up, too.
Imagine listing four years of robotics leadership on your activities sheet but writing an essay about how youāve ānever been interested in technology until now.ā Or submitting a transcript with strong science and math grades while saying your real passion is English literature ā without explaining the connection. These small inconsistencies can raise doubts about your clarity of goals, honesty, or self-awareness.
How to keep your story aligned
Your essay doesnāt have to repeat your rĆ©sumĆ© or activity list, but it should complement it. Use your essay to add depth or context to something already in your application, not contradict it.
- Does your essay support, rather than conflict with, your listed activities or achievements?
- Have you explained any unusual shifts, like a change in career interest or a dip in grades, in a thoughtful way?
- Does your essay align with the overall tone and message of your application?
When everything in your application works together, you present a clear and authentic picture ā one that helps admissions officers see where youāll fit on their campus.
Are you ready to start your college essays?
If youāre wondering whether youāre ready to start drafting your college application essays now, check out our new quiz to assess your current status!
Starting on the right path
Your college essay is one of the few parts of your application that allows you to speak directly to admissions officers in your own voice. Avoiding common mistakes ā like using tired clichĆ©s, wandering off-topic, oversharing personal details, or coming across as arrogant ā can make the difference between an essay that blends in and one that stands out for all the right reasons.
If youāre unsure whether your essay hits the mark, donāt leave it to chance. Empowerlyās team of essay experts can help you refine your ideas, strengthen your structure, and make sure your essay supports your application narrative. Schedule a consultation today and take the stress out of essay writingāso you can submit your applications with confidence.