What not to do in college essays?
Asked by: Kris Steuber | Last update: February 5, 2026Score: 4.6/5 (6 votes)
In a college essay, avoid listing achievements like a resume, using clichés (winning the big game, mission trips), overly controversial topics (politics, religion), or inappropriate subjects (drugs, cheating). Don't try to sound overly academic or use big words; instead, write in your authentic voice, as if talking to a smart friend, focusing on a single meaningful experience to reveal your character, not just your accomplishments. Always proofread meticulously for errors.
What to not do in your college essay?
Trivial or superficial topics: Avoid writing about topics that are too trivial or superficial, as they are unlikely to reveal much about your character or your ability to succeed in college. For example, writing about your favorite TV show or sports team may not be the best choice.
What are the 5 D's of college essays?
The "5 Ds" of college essays are common, overused topics that often make it difficult for students to stand out, including Death, Divorce, Disease, Drugs, and Dating (or Drama)**, with many counselors suggesting avoiding them because they're hard to handle authentically and often lead to clichés, though the focus should always be on you (the writer) rather than just the event itself.
What shouldn't you do in an essay?
- Fail to address the question's topic in your introduction. ...
- Stray from the focus of the question (especially in the conclusion) ...
- Insert quotes without introducing them or relating them back to the topic. ...
- Fail to provide references. ...
- Use informal language, colloquialisms, or overuse rhetorical questions.
What is not allowed in an essay?
Clichés, contractions, slang, and vague vocabulary all make essays feel less precise. They also make it harder to present a confident thesis or develop focused paragraphs. Clear academic vocabulary supports stronger reasoning. It helps you present evidence, develop analysis, and guide the reader with confidence.
9 College Essay Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them!)
What do colleges not want to see in an essay?
You should avoid common clichés like sports victories, mission trips, winning the big game, or focusing too much on family/pets, as well as overly sensitive topics like trauma, addiction, politics, religion, death, divorce, major illness, or illegal activities, which can be hard to write about authentically without sounding boastful, melodramatic, or inappropriate; instead, focus on unique personal growth and insights.
How do people with ADHD write essays?
Some people find it helpful to break down the writing process into smaller tasks and work on a number of tasks in smaller sprints. However, some people with ADHD find managing a number of tasks overwhelming, so for them, a “marathon write” may be a good idea. A marathon write doesn't have to mean last-minute writing.
What are the 5 C's of essay writing?
To introduce you to this world of academic writing, in this chapter I suggest that you should focus on five hierarchical characteristics of good writing, or the “5 Cs” of good academic writing, which include Clarity, Cogency, Conventionality, Completeness, and Concision.
How to stand out on a college essay?
12 Strategies to Writing the Perfect College Essay
- Be Authentic.
- Grab the Reader From the Start.
- Focus on Deeper Themes.
- Show Don't Tell.
- Try Doing Something Different.
- Write With the Reader in Mind.
- Write Several Drafts.
- Read It Aloud.
Can I trauma dump in my college essay?
No, it's generally not okay to "trauma dump" (overshare graphic details) in college essays; instead, focus on the growth, resilience, and lessons learned, framing the hardship to show your unique perspective and potential, not pity or victimhood, to demonstrate strength rather than just sadness. A good essay uses trauma as a brief context for a story of overcoming and evolving, showing what you gained, not just the pain itself, making it powerful and compelling for admissions officers.
What are common college essay mistakes?
The main ways college essays fail in their execution have to do with ignoring format, syntax, and genre expectations.
Is it bad if my college essay is exactly 650 words?
No, it's not bad; hitting exactly 650 words for a Common App essay is perfectly fine and often seen as a sign of strong editing, showing you used the space effectively to tell your story without being too brief or padded, though being slightly under (like 640+) is also great, while being significantly under (like 500 words) might suggest you missed the opportunity to fully develop your ideas. The main thing is quality and clarity, not just hitting the number, but hitting the limit shows you're following directions and making the most of the opportunity, say admissions experts and College Essay Guy.
Do and don'ts in essay?
Don't use words like “finally”, “in sum” or “in conclusion”. Don't repeat or sum up in any way. Don't start too many sentences with the word “I”. Don't tell the reader explicitly, “I am a unique and interesting person.” Instead, let the reader glean this from your unique and interesting essay.
What are the most overused college essay topics?
What are cliché college essay topics?
- Extracurriculars, especially sports.
- Role models.
- Dealing with a personal tragedy or death in the family.
- Struggling with new life situations (immigrant stories, moving homes, parents' divorce)
- Becoming a better person after community service, traveling, or summer camp.
Can I talk about video games in my college essay?
The key is not the topic itself, but what the student's engagement reveals about who they are, how they think, and how they have grown through gaming. “Admissions officers don't care about the topic — they care about what it reveals about you.”
How to get an A+ on an essay?
To get an A+ on an essay, you need a strong, clear thesis, solid evidence, critical analysis that connects evidence to the thesis, and impeccable structure, flow, and grammar, all while meticulously following the assignment prompt and proofreading thoroughly. Start by understanding the assignment, researching well, outlining logically, and crafting a compelling intro/conclusion, then refine with editing and feedback to demonstrate deep thinking and clear communication.
What is the best ending of an essay?
The best conclusion will include a synthesis, not just a summary—instead of a mere list of your major points, the best conclusion will draw those points together and relate them to one another so that your reader can apply the information given in the essay.
Can my essay have 5 paragraphs?
The five-paragraph model is a good way to learn how to write an academic essay. It's a simplified version of academic writing that requires you to state an idea and support it with evidence. Setting a limit of five paragraphs narrows your options and forces you to master the basics of organization.
What are the don'ts of college essays?
DON'T choose a topic that is too controversial or negative. DON'T have too many adults “revise” your essay. Yes, it should be free of grammatical errors, and yes, it's fine to have your English teacher check it over for that reason, but the colleges want to hear an 18-year-old voice, not a 45-year-old voice.
What are the 20 most common writing mistakes?
20 Most Common Grammatical Mistakes in Academic Writing With Examples
- Subject-verb agreement.
- Run-on sentences.
- Using informal language or contractions.
- Redundant phrasing and wordiness.
- Citation and referencing errors.
- Unnecessary or missing comma.
- Unnecessary or missing capitalization.
- Unnecessary or missing hyphen.
What are weakeners in writing?
These are filler words that add nothing and worse, will weaken your sentence. Try removing some from something you've already written and see how much oomph you gain.
What is the 30% rule in ADHD?
The "ADHD 30 Rule" refers to two main concepts: the 30% developmental delay in executive function (a 30-year-old acting more like a 21-year-old) and practical strategies like adding 30% more time to tasks, taking 30-second pauses, or using 30-minute decluttering bursts to manage time blindness, impulsivity, and overwhelm. It's a heuristic to set realistic expectations, acknowledging that ADHD brains often struggle with self-regulation and organization compared to neurotypical peers.
What is the 2 minute rule for ADHD?
The ADHD 2-Minute Rule is a productivity hack where you tackle tasks taking under two minutes immediately to build momentum, but it needs modification for ADHD because underestimating time and poor transitions often derail it; instead, try starting a task for just two minutes to overcome inertia, or use a "catch-all" list for quick tasks and adjust the time to 5 minutes to avoid getting lost in minor details, preventing overwhelm and procrastination by focusing on getting started.
Should you mention ADHD in a college essay?
The decision whether to disclose your ADHD during the admissions process is yours to make. Disclosing one's disability and how it may have had an impact on the student's grades or coursework might allow admissions counselors to view less competitive information differently once they understand the impact of ADHD.