Avoid 5 Common Pitfalls While Writing the Common App Essay

By Naazish YarKhan, CEO, WritersStudio.us

1. Some students write their common app essays based on what they think college admissions officers want to hear. Yes, college admissions officers do want students who are collaborative, compassionate, thoughtful, industrious - the list can go on and on. But what high school seniors write about, first and foremost, must be authentic. A good way to guage whether you are on the right track when it comes to authenticity is to ask yourself, "does this essay reflect facets of myself, what I know best, or feel most strongly about?"

2. We discourage writing about the future in the Common App essay. Save that for the supplements when you discuss how you see yourself contributing to campus culture or why you chose a particular major or why you want to attend a particular school.

3. A common pitfall is focusing too much on accomplishments or failures without including personal reflection. Feel free to discuss accomplishments but the essay shouldn’t duplicate nor sound like a résumé. Personal statements or the Common App essay are spaces where students could write about how those achievements or failures have impacted them on a personal level. What did they learn from the experience? How did it change them? Essays that are too focused on success or failure without reflection can fail to engage the reader emotionally.

4. Another common mistake is writing in an overly formal tone. The Common App essay should be conversational and reflect your voice. I encourage my students to write just as they would speak to me—keeping it professional but not stuffy.

5. Lastly, this isn't the persuasive essay. That format and structure isn't for the common app essay. Neither is poorly structured, stream-of-consciousness writing without a clear beginning, middle, and end. An essay that’s well-structured and easy to follow will keep college admission officers engaged from start to finish. Don't hesitate to revise, revise, revise.

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