College Essays - - Things to Avoid
- S.C.
- Nov 8, 2024
- 2 min read
College essays serve as a canvas for applicants to paint a picture of who they are, beyond their grades and test scores. It's crucial to note that even the seemingly uninteresting moments can be transformed into compelling parts of your narrative. In this short newsletter, I'm unveiling the points that may not resonate with admissions officers and should be avoided.
Not responding to the essay prompt accurately. To fix - - Do your homework and understand what the school offers and what you have done/will do, especially when answering the "why us" questions.
Writing about what happened 4+ years ago but without mentioning what's happening now. To fix - - talk about what's happening now, whether it's work in progress or ____________ (tell a story only YOU can tell).
Avoid using the 1st person pronoun to attain a particular style mirroring an English paper or novel. To fix - - feel free to use "I" to make a statement or to create a semantic pattern for repetition.
Repetitive information, such as grades or a laundry list of awards/achievements, which is already present in other parts of the application. To fix - - feel free to use a failure as a theme (yes, a failure, as I encourage) to tell a story that only YOU can tell.
Using big words or a thesaurus outside your vocabulary inventory or making yourself sound bigger than you are to leave a "good" impression. To fix - - be genuine and be you!
Asking someone else/AI to write or revise extensively to the point where the applicant's style and voice are lost. To fix - - note academic integrity and the difference between authenticity and fantasy.
Asking too many people to read or revise your writing. To fix - - choosing one & the "right" one is advisable, as too many voices may cause more anxiety and confusion than clarity and confidence.
Not focusing on the applicant enough and let other figures take over the main point of the story. To fix - - focus on how the event/person/people transformed you & how you see the world today.
Not sharing enough specific details on the personal statement given the extensive allowance on the word count. To fix - - there's a reason why applicants have as many as 650 words to write, and that is to share with the admissions officers a few detailed stories revealing who you are. Ask yourself, "What is meaningful to you and uniquely about you that no others can say the same?"
Crafting a successful college essay is an art form, a process of weaving together the pieces of your story. It's also a method that demands a consistent voice, a platform, for your unique storytelling. Contact Sydney, a college counselor and a former English professor, for this critical component of your college application process. Until then, we wish you the best of luck with your college essays!!
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