Every fall, there are students who’ve done everything right—perfect GPA, top test scores, research, leadership, the works—and still get rejected from their top-choice schools.
What happened? Usually… the essay.
College admissions officers read thousands of applications. The essay is the one place they’re hoping to meet a real person. It’s not about what you’ve done—it’s about how you think, how you see the world, and what you value.
Here are 10 of the most common ways I see even brilliant students miss the mark.
1. Writing a glorified resume
Too many essays just list accomplishments in paragraph form. “I was president of this, co-founded that, interned here.” That’s what your a
ctivities list is for. Your essay should reflect, not recap. One moment. One story. One change.
2. Being vague and forgettable
If your essay could have been written by 500 other applicants, you’ve got a problem. General phrases like “I love helping people” or “This experience shaped who I am” don’t stick. Specific, personal details do.
3. Over-editing the life out of it
Sometimes students revise their essay so much it starts sounding like a robot or a legal document. Clean writing is good—but don’t polish away your actual voice. If it doesn’t sound like you
, it’s not going to connect.
4. Leaning too hard on the “trauma narrative”
It’s fine to write about challenges. But your hardship isn’t your personality, and it shouldn’t be your entire essay. Focus on how you grew or what changed—not just how much you suffered.
5. Letting the structure wander
I’ve read plenty of essays that start strong but lose their way halfway through. The best ones have a clear flow. Don’t just string together deep-sounding sentences—take your reader on a journey.
6. Ignoring the actual prompt
This happens more than you’d think, especially on the “Why this college?” questions. If you’re applying to Columbia, don’t write a generic love letter to New York. Talk about Columb
ia—the classes, professors, or programs that excite you.
7. Trying to sound like a thesaurus
Big words don’t impress admissions readers. Thoughtful, honest writing does. If you wouldn’t say “my endeavors therein were transformative” in real life, don’t write it in your essay.
8. Turning yourself into a superhero
Students sometimes write essays that make them sound like flawless saviors—starting nonprofits, curing diseases, mentoring hundreds of kids. That’s cool, but what did you struggle
with? What did you learn? Vulnerability shows maturity.
9. Using every cliché in the book
“This pushed me out of my comfort zone.” “Hard work pays off.” “I never gave up.” These are fine ideas, but they’ve been written a thousand times. Try saying it in your own words—even if they’re a little messy.
10. Submitting the first draft (or the fourth)
A good essay takes real revision. Not just spellcheck. Not just grammar tweaks. I’m talking about cutting paragraphs, reworking structure, and sometimes rewriting the whole thing. Yes, it’s annoying. It also makes the difference.
Final thought:
You don’t need to sound impressive. You need to sound like you—cu
rious, thoughtful, real. If you can write a story that only you could write, and help the reader understand how you think, you’ve done your job.
Need a second set of eyes? That’s what I do. I work one-on-one with students to build meaningful, memorable applications—without the ridiculous price tag.