Writing your Common App essay can feel like an intimidating task. After all, it’s one of the most crucial parts of your college application. Admissions officers read these essays to get a glimpse of your personality, motivations, and experiences. While many students aim to make their essays stand out, they often fall into common traps. Don’t worry, though—with the right guidance, you can sidestep these common app essay mistakes and write a compelling essay that showcases your best self.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through over 30+ Common App essay mistakes, explain how to avoid them and share tips to ensure your essay leaves a lasting impression.
Key Takeaways
- Misinterpreting the essay prompt can derail the entire essay; focus on answering what the prompt truly asks.
- Avoid writing clichés and general narratives; instead, emphasize unique aspects of your personal story to stand out.
- It's important not to list achievements but to reveal your character and values through storytelling in your essay.
- Adhere to the word count limit; essays should be concise, insightful, and thoroughly proofread to reflect effort.
- Tailor each essay to specific prompts and schools to ensure authenticity and alignment with the institution's values.
1. Misinterpreting the Essay Prompt
The first hurdle many students face is misunderstanding the essay prompt. This mistake can derail your entire essay. For example, let’s say you’re tackling a prompt about a challenge you’ve overcome. Instead of focusing on your journey and personal growth, you might spend too much time describing the challenge itself. The admissions committee wants to see your perspective and how you’ve grown, not just a detailed narrative of the event.
How to Avoid It: Read the prompt multiple times and underline key phrases. Ask yourself, “What is this prompt really asking?” Then, outline your response before diving into writing.
2. Writing a Cliché Narrative
Many students fall into the trap of writing about overused topics like scoring the winning goal in a soccer game or learning the importance of teamwork through a group project. While these experiences are valuable, they’ve been done to death.
For ideas to inspire a unique narrative, explore these college essay topics and ensure your story stands out.
How to Avoid It: Focus on what makes your story unique. Instead of writing about the “winning goal,” delve into how that moment shaped your outlook on life or taught you psychological resilience. Admissions officers read many essays so they stand out with a fresh perspective.
Ace Your Common App Essay
Struggling with your Common App essay? Let our experts craft a unique, plagiarism-free essay tailored to showcase your personality and achievements. Click the ORDER NOW button above and secure your spot at your dream college today!
3. Focusing Too Much on Achievements
It’s tempting to list every accolade you’ve received since secondary school, but an essay packed with achievements can feel impersonal. Your application already includes sections for extracurriculars and awards, so your essay should go deeper.
How to Avoid It: Tell a story that reveals your character and values. Instead of saying, “I’ve won three art competitions,” describe how creating art helped you process your emotions or connect with others.
4. Ignoring the Word Count Limit in Your College Essay
Admissions officers are busy people, and essays that exceed the 650-word limit can frustrate them. On the flip side, an essay that’s too short might not provide enough insight into who you are.
How to Avoid It: Stay within the word count. Edit ruthlessly to ensure every sentence adds value. Use concise language to express your ideas without sacrificing depth.
5. Submitting a Generic Personal Statement
One of the most common pitfalls is writing an essay that could belong to anyone. Phrases like “I want to make a difference” or “Education is important to me” are vague and uninspiring.
How to Avoid It: Make your essay personal. Instead of generalizations, use specific examples and anecdotes to illustrate your points. For instance, rather than saying, “I care about community service,” share a story about volunteering and how it impacted you.
6. Waiting Until the Last Minute
Rushing to complete your essay the night before the deadline can lead to a host of issues, from grammatical mistakes to poorly developed ideas.
How to Avoid It: Start early. Give yourself time to brainstorm, draft, revise, and proofread. This approach ensures your essay is polished and well-thought-out.
7. Forgetting to Answer the Question
A brilliant essay that doesn’t address the prompt won’t impress admissions officers. This mistake often happens when students reuse an essay they’ve written for another application.
How to Avoid It: Tailor each essay to the specific prompt. After writing, reread the question to ensure you’ve answered it fully.
8. Overusing a Thesaurus
While it’s tempting to use sophisticated language to impress the admissions committee, overloading your essay with complex words can backfire. It might make your writing sound unnatural or forced.
How to Avoid It: Use plain English to express your ideas clearly. Your essay should sound like you, not a thesaurus.
9. Neglecting Proofreading
Even the best essays can be ruined by typos and grammatical mistakes. These errors suggest carelessness, which is the last impression you want to leave.
Beyond proofreading your essay, learning from mistakes to avoid in the dissertation conclusion can improve your overall academic writing skills.
How to Avoid It: Proofread carefully. Read your essay out loud to catch awkward phrasing or missed words. Ask a trusted friend, teacher, or mentor to review it as well.
10. Forgetting Crucial Context
Admissions officers don’t know you personally, so they rely on the information you provide. If you leave out key details, your essay might confuse them.
How to Avoid It: Assume the reader has no prior knowledge of your experiences. Provide enough context to make your story understandable and meaningful.
Stand Out in Admissions
Don’t risk common mistakes holding you back—our professional writers are here to help! Order a custom Common App essay that highlights your strengths and sets you apart from the crowd. Hit the ORDER NOW button and let us help you succeed.
11. Avoiding Vulnerability
Some students hesitate to share personal struggles or failures, fearing they’ll seem weak. However, Vulnerability often leads to the most powerful essays.
How to Avoid It: Be honest about your challenges and how you’ve grown from them. Admissions officers value self-awareness and psychological resilience.
12. Ignoring Feedback
While it’s your essay, getting feedback from others can help you identify areas for improvement. Ignoring constructive criticism is a missed opportunity.
How to Avoid It: Share your essay with people you trust, like teachers or mentors, and consider their suggestions carefully.
13. Lack of a Clear Theme
Without a unifying theme, your essay can feel scattered and disjointed.
A theme provides structure to your essay, allowing your ideas to flow naturally. Without one, your essay might read like a laundry list of unrelated thoughts, leaving admissions officers confused about your overall message.
How to Fix It: Start by identifying a central idea that connects your experiences and motivations. Every paragraph should tie back to this theme, creating a cohesive narrative. For example, if your theme is curiosity, focus on how it has shaped your education, hobbies, and future aspirations.
14. Using Generic Essays
Submitting a “one-size-fits-all” essay shows a lack of effort and doesn’t resonate with admissions officers.
Generic essays fail to make an impression. If your essay could apply to multiple schools or prompts, it likely won’t stand out.
Incorporating signal words can enhance the clarity and cohesion of your essay, making it more tailored and engaging.
How to Fix It: Customize your essay for each college you’re applying to. Research the school’s values and programs, and incorporate these insights into your writing. Admissions officers are looking for students who align with their institution’s mission, so show that you’ve done your homework.
15. Lying or Exaggerating Your Story
Embellishing your achievements or fabricating details can damage your credibility if discovered.
Honesty is key in your college application. Admissions officers can often spot inconsistencies, and lying could lead to severe consequences.
How to Fix It: Be truthful about your experiences and accomplishments. If you’re concerned about your achievements seeming unimpressive, focus on what you’ve learned or how you’ve grown instead of inflating the facts.
16. Relying on Spell-Check Alone
Spell-check tools are helpful but can miss context-specific errors, leaving embarrassing mistakes unnoticed.
While spell-check can catch basic errors, it won’t spot homophones (like “their” vs. “there”) or phrases that don’t make sense in context.
How to Fix It: Proofread your essay multiple times and read it out loud to catch errors. Ask a friend, teacher, or mentor to review it for you. Their fresh perspective can uncover mistakes you’ve overlooked.
17. Spelling and Grammar Mistakes
Errors in spelling or grammar can make an otherwise excellent essay look unpolished.
Mistakes in grammar and spelling can distract readers and give the impression that you didn’t put much effort into your essay.
How to Fix It: Beyond proofreading, consider using grammar-checking tools like Grammarly. However, don’t rely solely on these tools. Combine them with manual checks to ensure your essay is error-free.
18. Avoiding the Optional Essay
Skipping optional essays is a missed opportunity to share more about yourself with admissions officers.
Optional essays allow you to provide additional context about your application or delve deeper into a specific aspect of your experience.
How to Fix It: Treat optional essays as mandatory. Use them to address potential gaps in your application, elaborate on your motivations, or highlight experiences that didn’t fit elsewhere.
19. Rehashing Your Résumé
Duplicating content from your application in your essay adds no new insight and wastes valuable space.
Admissions officers already have access to your list of extracurriculars and achievements. Repeating them in your essay is redundant.
How to Fix It: Use your essay to tell a story that provides context to your résumé. For instance, instead of listing your volunteer activities, describe a meaningful moment during one of those experiences.
20. Starting with a Weak Hook
A dull or generic opening fails to capture the reader’s attention and leaves a poor first impression.
The first sentence of your essay sets the tone for the rest of your writing. If it doesn’t grab the reader’s attention, they may skim the rest.
A strong hook is key to capturing attention. These essay hook examples can guide you in crafting an engaging start.
How to Fix It: Begin with a vivid anecdote, surprising fact, or thought-provoking question that ties into your theme. This will draw the reader in and make them eager to read more.
Get Expert Writing Assistance
Need a professionally written essay for your college application? We deliver high-quality, original papers designed to meet Common App standards. Place your order now by clicking the ORDER NOW button for stress-free academic help!
21. Being Overly Formal
Trying too hard to sound academic can strip your essay of personality and make it unmemorable.
While professionalism is important, overly formal language can make your essay feel stiff and impersonal.
How to Fix It: Write in a natural tone that reflects your voice. Imagine you’re having a conversation with the admissions committee. This approach makes your essay more relatable and engaging.
22. Submitting Incomplete Applications
An incomplete application, even with a stellar essay, can undermine your overall candidacy.
Missing documents or unanswered sections can send the wrong message to admissions officers.
How to Fix It: Double-check that all parts of your application are complete before submitting. Use a checklist to ensure nothing is overlooked.
23. Forgetting to Talk About Yourself
Focusing too much on external events or other people can leave admissions officers wondering who you are.
Your essay should center on you, not your parents, friends, or mentors. While it’s fine to include others, your voice should be the loudest.
How to Fix It: Whenever you describe an event or person, tie it back to your own experiences and growth. Show the admissions team how these moments shaped your journey.
24. Lacking Familiarity with the School
Ignoring the values or mission of the schools you’re applying to can make your essay feel disconnected. Essays that don’t align with the school’s values suggest a lack of genuine interest.
Admissions officers are looking for students who will thrive in their environment. Failing to demonstrate an understanding of the school can hurt your application. Additionally, Generic essays that could apply to any college fail to demonstrate your enthusiasm for a particular institution.
How to Fix It: Research the school’s programs, values, and culture. Mention specific aspects that resonate with you and explain why you’re a good fit. Highlight programs or opportunities that excite you.
25. Waiting Until the Deadline to Submit
Last-minute submissions can lead to technical errors and unnecessary stress.
Rushing to submit your application at the last minute increases the risk of errors or missed opportunities.
How to Fix It: Aim to submit your application a few days before the deadline. This gives you time to address any unexpected issues.
26. Making Up Involvement in Extracurriculars
Fabricating activities or exaggerating participation can lead to questions about your honesty.
Admissions officers value authenticity, and dishonesty can jeopardize your entire application.
How to Fix It: Be truthful about your extracurriculars. Focus on the quality of your involvement rather than the quantity.
27. Lacking Self-Reflection
Admissions officers want to see how your experiences have shaped your perspective and goals.
An essay without self-reflection can feel superficial and fail to connect with the reader.
How to Fix It: Reflect on the “why” behind your experiences. Share what you’ve learned and how it has influenced your outlook or aspirations.
28. Submitting an Overedited Essay
Overediting to meet others’ expectations can remove your authentic voice from your writing.
While feedback is valuable, too much input can dilute your essay’s personality.
How to Fix It: Trust your instincts. Incorporate feedback selectively, ensuring your essay still feels like your own.
29. Inappropriate Social Media Posts
Though not directly related to your essay, questionable social media activity can impact your application.
Admissions officers sometimes check applicants’ online presence. Inappropriate content can leave a negative impression.
How to Fix It: Audit your social media accounts and remove any posts that might be deemed offensive or unprofessional.
30. Listing Achievements Without Narrative or Reflection
While it’s tempting to showcase a long list of accomplishments, this approach often falls flat because it lacks the personal touch that college admissions officers are looking for. Simply stating achievements doesn’t help them understand your motivations, growth, or the impact those experiences had on you.
Avoiding common literary essay writing mistakes can help you craft a reflective and engaging narrative.
How to Fix It: To avoid this, focus on crafting a narrative that ties your accomplishments to your personal journey. For example, instead of just listing leadership roles, explain how these experiences shaped your perspective or influenced your decision to pursue a particular major. Reflect on how challenges, including mental health struggles, have impacted your growth and why these moments were pivotal in your life. By doing so, you show colleges the reason behind your success and the depth of your character—an essential part of the college essay process.
31. Telling Stories They THINK Admissions Officers Want to Read
A common mistake applicants make in their college application essays is trying to tell a story they think admissions officers want to read rather than one that is authentic to their own experiences. Many students feel pressure to write about certain “common” college experiences, like a volunteer trip abroad or leading a student organization, thinking these topics are what colleges want to hear. However, this approach can often result in a generic, hackneyed essay that lacks the personal touch that admissions people are truly looking for.
How to Fix It: Instead of trying to fit into a mold, applicants should aim to “show, not tell.” Rather than reciting a list of accomplishments or narrating an overly polished story, focus on your unique perspective and personal growth. Colleges want to hear about your real experiences, challenges, and how you’ve learned from them. Writing the essay should be an opportunity for you to reflect on what makes you, as a student, a storyteller, and a thinker, rather than attempting to craft a piece of writing they believe colleges expect.
Secure Your Dream School
A standout Common App essay is just a click away. Trust our experienced writers to create a compelling, error-free paper that reflects your unique journey. Click the ORDER NOW button above to get started today!
Conclusion
Crafting a strong Common App essay requires attention to detail, self-awareness, and a willingness to revise. By avoiding these common pitfalls and focusing on telling a genuine, well-structured story, you can create an essay that resonates with admissions officers and sets you apart. Remember, your essay is your chance to let colleges see the real you—so make it count.
Common App Essay Mistakes FAQs
What is a bad Common App essay?
A bad Common App essay is one that lacks authenticity, fails to address the prompt, or is riddled with grammatical errors. It may also be overly generic, clichéd, or disconnected from the applicant’s personality.
What should you avoid in an essay?
Avoid clichés, grammatical mistakes, overused topics, and overly formal language. Also, steer clear of overly broad statements and irrelevant details.
How do you know if your Common App essay is good?
A good essay is engaging, authentic, and free of errors. It answers the prompt, tells a compelling story, and reflects your values and experiences.
Can your Common App essay be sad?
Yes, your essay can be sad, as long as it ultimately conveys resilience, growth, or a positive outlook. Admissions officers want to see how you’ve overcome challenges and what you’ve learned from them.
Experienced writer and dedicated professor with a passion for crafting compelling narratives and nurturing the next generation of critical thinkers
