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12 Mistakes Not to Make on Your College Essay

Posted on June 30, 2010 by admin

Your college essay is the only application item that gives you the opportunity to put your unique personality on display for your prospective college – something that your high school transcript, SAT scores and letters of recommendation can’t accomplish. It may not make or break your chances of getting into a particular college, but it can certainly raise or lower your standing in the admissions pecking order. So it’s important that you spend time carefully composing your essay. Avoid the common mistakes listed below, and you’ll be more likely to come across as an intelligent individual who’s worthy of an education from the school of your choice.

1. Selecting a weak topic
   Read through every topic and pick one that will best enable you to describe your past experiences and achievements, and how they’ve made you into the person you are today. Avoid commonly used anecdotes; writing about a volunteer trip you took in the past may indicate that you’re a selfless person with good perspective, but when almost every other applicant is writing about the same topic, you won’t stick out.
2. Not answering the question
   Don’t lose sight of the question as you attempt to knock their socks off by displaying your masterful writing skills. If it’s a two-part question, answer both parts. If they ask you about a personal experience, don’t use half of the essay to describe why you’d be a good fit at their school.
3. Poor structure
   Before composing your essay, make an outline detailing what you’ll write in each paragraph. It’ll prevent you from wandering off the beaten path and combining a series of random thoughts. The essay should include an attention-grabbing opening paragraph, a well-organized body and a strong closing paragraph.
4. Trying too hard to stand out
   Creative essays that break away from the norm are encouraged as long as you know what you’re doing. Inserting a funny anecdote or two can make it more enjoyable to read, and thus you’d be more likely to stand out from your competitors. However, don’t overdo it. If the question is lighthearted, don’t turn into Robin Williams. If the essay question solicits a serious response, avoid using humor altogether.
5. Making it another version of your resume
   You don’t need to list your academic accomplishments; the school already knows about them. In most cases, your essay should highlight personal characteristics – like leadership skills, motivation, curiosity and ability to overcome adversity – that indicate you would make an excellent student at their school. Write about unique personal experiences that admissions counselors otherwise wouldn’t already know.
6. Exceeding the maximum word limit
   As a high school student, you recognize the importance of following directions. The same rule applies in college. If admissions counselors request a 400-word essay, don’t write 500 words. Don’t even write 401 words. Adding additional content won’t impress them; it’ll likely cause them to ignore your essay and move on to the next one, hurting your chances for admission.
7. Not proofreading
   Thoroughly proofread your essay before you send it to your prospective school. Spelling and grammatical errors can overshadow the otherwise interesting content. Don’t rely on spell check programs. Ask multiple people to read it for you. Your parents, a smart friend or an English teacher might catch the mistakes you missed while looking it over.
8. Including an overabundance of big words
   Don’t fall in love with your thesaurus. Sure, varying your words makes your writing more enjoyable and easier to read. But misusing a word that you don’t fully understand can change the entire meaning of a sentence. Admissions counselors know when you’re trying too hard. Keep it simple and let the words flow naturally.
9. Lack of confidence
   Don’t downplay your accomplishments in an effort to appear humble. Don’t dwell on your weaknesses or anything that would indicate that you aren’t up for the challenge of college. Admissions counselors recognize that nobody is perfect. Your confidence and positive attitude should be apparent throughout the essay.
10. Being too boastful
    On the other hand, coming across as boastful and arrogant can be off-putting to admissions counselors. Don’t claim to be the next Stephen Hawking – even if you really are a genius. Find middle ground between the aforementioned mistake and this one.
11. Rushing
    Start writing your essays early in the application process. Waiting until the last moment will cause you to rush through your essay, resulting in a less-than-stellar final product. Because it’s an important part of the application process, you should invest enough time in your essay to make it perfect. How long that takes varies depending on the student.
12. Sending the same essay to every college
    Some topics can be repetitive, but that doesn’t mean you should take the opportunity to be lazy. Not every college to which you apply will be the same. For that reason, you should write a different essay for each one. Find out the characteristics they want their students to possess, and then tailor your essay to their preferences.

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