College Essay Topics to Avoid pt2

Jul 13 (edited) in College Apps

The Hodgepodge:

Don't try to pack every achievement of your high school career into one 650-word essay

— that's what the activities and awards sections are for. Instead of jumbling together a heap of disjointed topics and events, pick just a few you can tie together with a common theme of personal development.

How To Fix: Pick and focus on one or two events or accomplishments you are proud of. Flesh each one with anecdotes and let your personality and thought process shine. Make the essay a narrative instead of a laundry list of your activities and awards.

The Childhood Memoir:

Keep your essay largely in the present!

Don't focus too much of your time on experiences long past. It can be helpful to mention formative experiences from an earlier time in your life, but only touch on them briefly and be sure to connect their relevance to who you are now and your goals for the future.

How To Fix: Bring the essay into the here and now. How did the childhood experience you are thinking about shape who you are today? What in your current life reflects that outcome?

Typical Romance:

Writing about a "breakup from a long-term relationship", whether it’s your ex-bestie or ex-lover, is a bad topic because it comes across as overly personal and does not effectively showcase your strengths, achievements, or growth. Admissions officers are looking for essays that highlight your unique qualities, resilience, and how you've overcome challenges. A breakup story might not provide the best context for demonstrating these attributes in a way that stands out positively, generally because breakups is something almost every teenager goes through and you won’t come off as special. Remember, it’s a college essay and not another romance novel, so try to minimise the impact your “love” has in your growth journey.

How To Fix: Concentrate on the positive outcomes of the experience rather than the negative emotions. Relate the experience to your future goals and how it has prepared you for college. For example, did it help you develop better time management, self-care, or independence? Discuss how you handled the emotional challenge and adapted to changes.

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