You don’t have to be a gifted writer to draft a great college essay: there is room for everyone’s story at the college admissions table! Of course every student wants to submit a masterful essay with their application, but even the strongest of writers can find themselves off track if they veer into certain (writing) territory. From overused topics to weak conclusions, common missteps can have a big impact on how admissions officers receive your story.
At Avalon, we review hundreds of college essays each year. We know that many of the most common issues are easy to fix—when you know what to look for. Below, we break down common college essay missteps and what you can do to avoid them, so you can feel confident in the story you’re sharing.
1. Choosing an Overused or Generic Topic
Some stories are so frequently told in college essays that they no longer stand out (even if they’re remarkable or especially meaningful to you personally). That doesn’t mean you can’t write about a common-experience topic, it just means you’ll need to work harder to make it feel fresh, or to tell it from a unique angle.
Examples of common college essay topics (that often fall flat):
- Winning (or losing) the big game
- Moving to a new school or country
- Suffering an injury or from an illness and learning perseverance
- A service trip that changed your worldview
- A relative’s illness as inspiration for a career in medicine
These experiences might have shaped you, but they’ll only work as your topic if the focus stays on you, and not on the event itself.
Tip: Planning to write about a typical-topic like those above? Ask yourself:
- What did I learn that surprised me?
- What changed about how I see the world or myself?
- Could someone else tell this same (or a pretty similar) story, or is it uniquely mine?
2. Repackaging Your Resume
A college essay is not a list of your achievements: that’s what the Activities section is for! Admissions officers want to learn something about you that they can’t find elsewhere in your application.
What not to write in a college essay:
- A summary of all the awards you’ve won
- A play-by-play of your club involvement
- A rehash of every single AP class you’ve taken and why it was hard
Instead, zoom in on one meaningful moment, activity, or idea and use it to show how you think, what matters to you, and how you’ve grown over the past few years.
3. Losing Your Voice
Your college essay should sound like you. If it’s too formal, too academic, or full of words you wouldn’t say out loud naturally, admissions officers will notice, and your message may come across as inauthentic.
Avoid:
- Overly grand vocabulary (“therefore”; “commence”)
- Clichés and sweeping statements (“This taught me the true meaning of life.”)
- Sentences that feel like they came from ChatGPT (we see you 👀)
- Clunky or unnecessary phrases (“needless to say”; “in order to”)
Do:
- Write like you speak, then tighten it up
- Read your essay aloud to check for tone and clarity
- Get feedback from someone who knows your voice
4. A Weak or Rushed Ending
Students often spend so much time perfecting the intro and body of their essay that they rush the ending. The conclusion shouldn’t be an afterthought, though: it’s the lasting impression you leave, and what sticks with the reader.
How to end a college essay effectively:
- Reflect on what has changed in your life or what you’ve learned
- Return to the image or moment you used at the beginning of your essay
- Offer a glimpse of where you’re headed (but only if it feels natural!)
Avoid simply summarizing or saying “In conclusion…”. Your final lines should leave the reader with a sense of clarity, growth, or insight.
5. Ignoring the Word Count
Whether you’re writing for the Common Application or a school-specific prompt, the word count matters. Your teacher may think a few words over his/her proclaimed limit is ok, but the 650-word limit on your Personal Statement is truly the limit. Being too far under the limit is also problematic, however. It can suggest a lack of writing skills, or could imply that you don’t have a lot to say (which is a fine personality trait, but isn’t to your particular benefit here). Worse though, is that you’re not making the most of your chance to share your distinctive qualities, and are forfeiting the opportunity to convince a college of your value as a candidate.
Essay tips:
- Aim for 90–100% of the word count range (for the Common App’s Personal Statement, that’s 585–650 words)
- Trim filler words and avoid repetition
- Use paragraph breaks to help with flow and pacing
Final Thoughts
Strong college essays come in all shapes and styles, but the best ones aim to be unique and stay focused on the student’s voice, growth, and perspective.
Have you fallen into one of the common-mistake traps above? It’s never too late to redirect or refine your work! With the right mindset and support, your essay can move from “fine” to memorable, from “good” to outstanding.
Want a second set of eyes? Avalon advisors help students strengthen their essays—from choosing the perfect topic to getting an ending just right, and everything in between.
Schedule a free consultation to see how we can support your college journey.