What NOT to Write on Your College Application Essays - Merit Educational Consultants
0

What NOT to Write on Your College Application Essays

Every year when I brainstorm about topics to write about on college application essays with rising seniors, I find the most difficult part is helping them find their own voices. Many think there is a formula that’ll get them into an Ivy League college or others make up stories with the intent of winning over the reader. For students who didn’t win a national award or cure cancer, they’ll need to do some soul searching to tell a story that reveals something interesting about themselves so the admissions officers get to know them a little better. If they did a project, their personal statements and main common application essays will focus on their experiences.

Because one essay worked for a student who got into Stanford, that doesn’t mean that a similar essay would do the same for you.

Don’t write:

  1. That you understand poverty because you saw it on a service trip (trust me, you don’t).
  2. About the amazing successes of your grandfather (unless you tie it back to how he influenced you)
  3. About your exclusive vacation at a resort (sounds like entitlement)
  4. About how clever you are (instead, tell a story that will make the reader think you’re clever)
  5. About how you won the championship for your team (remember, it takes a team)
  6. About wanting to go to XYZ college because your boyfriend does or everyone in your family did (you’ll look shallow and clueless)
  7. That you overcame something irrelevant (boredom)
  8. That you want to go to ABC college because you like their winning football team. (clueless)
  9. That you are the best at something when there are lots of students who do the same (8 million kids play sports and 22 million participate in music in high school)
  10. About why you like the college by summarizing their home page of their website (Research your major, clubs, professors research, and more to validate your decision to apply)
  11. Using humor or sass unless you are very good at using it (nothing worse than a joke that fell short)

Remember, college admissions officers read thousands of essays each year. Open with a hook to pique their curiosity. Then share with them something about yourself that makes them see the real you. Make them want to read more to learn about you. If your essay just drones on and on, you’ll lose the reader. If you’d like help, Merit Educational Consultants has coaches who guide you through the process while maintaining your voice and your message.