Discover these 8 fatal essay mistakes today. Therefore, your personal statement will stand out. Consequently, impress examiners with authentic stories. Finally, get accepted into your dream college.
Did you know that during the 2023–24 cycle, 1,842,046 first-year applicants submitted over 8 million applications through the Common App? That is an increment of 7 per cent over the last year. As a result, it is now more difficult than ever to stand out. Moreover, the average-aged student is now making 5 to 7 college applications. It implies that examiners are reading thousands of essays a day.
That is why you must make your essay memorable in the right way. The best opportunity to speak to the reader is through your personal statement. It makes your numbers on your transcript real. Nevertheless, most students fall into expected pitfalls. The likelihood of avoiding such errors can help a lot. In this article, we consider the eight mistakes when answering common app essay questions. It is therefore vital to shun the pitfalls to succeed.
Key Takeaways
- Your Common App essay questions should show what you are in the real sense. You should never just enumerate your accomplishments.
- Common app essay questions demonstrate personal development at all times in your narrative. One of the lessons learnt is important.
- Do not use thesaurus to sound more intelligent. There is no better trick than to be one yourself.
- But above all, you have to answer the prompt. The Common App essay questions should not be disregarded.
- Do not lie or overstate in your writing. Dishonesty can be identified by the examiners with a lot of ease.
- Begin ahead of time so as to have time to make corrections. It is quite useful to get other people to comment.
- Attend to one particular instant. This has a stronger impression on the readers.
What Is the Risk of Using AI Tools When Answering Common App Essay Questions?
To begin with, the application of AI tools such as ChatGPT is highly perilous for answering your common app essay questions. In addition, AI detectors are now used to scan applications in colleges. As a result, your essay may be automatically raised. This could make your whole application rejected. That is why, never write your story yourself. Moreover, personal voice is what counts the most. Lastly, authenticity will always win over artificial intelligence.
8 Mistakes to Avoid When Answering Common App Essay Questions
To begin with, it is only your Common App essay when you get to speak. Thus, to be successful, it is necessary to avoid mistakes when answering common app essay questions. In addition, thousands of essays are read every day; as a result, boring or clichéed essays are rejected very quickly.
Moreover, even minor mistakes in common app essay questions may destroy your whole case as a college applicant. As an illustration, it is an immense error to list achievements and not stories. Moreover, big words only prove unwise in most cases. This leads to the loss of your original voice. Lastly, you will save your essay by learning all those eight mistakes.
1. Simply Restating Your Resume
Besides, the examiner already has your entire resume. Thus, its reiteration is a waste of your single storytelling opportunity. In fact, this is why your essay should be a reflection of your real personality. As an illustration, spend some personal time together with profound feelings. Consequently, your readers will not forget you, but your statistics.
What Is the “Resume Repeat” Mistake?
To begin with, this mistake occurs when students repeat the achievements. That is, they are merely imitating their Activities List. In addition, you already have your resume in the hands of the examiner. It is, therefore, a waste of your precious time on essays to repeat it. As such, your essay should show your personality.
As an example quoted by Philip Weldon, who is a senior writer at The Academic Papers UK, a reliable essay writing service, it is not enough to refer to your debate trophy. Rather, you need to write about your fear and then talk. Consequently, readers can associate with your humanity. And, lastly, they are made to care, not to be made to care with statisticians.
- Your resume demonstrates what you have done. But you have to make your essay reveal who you are.
- Identify one small moment of an activity. Then explain it in graphic detail.
- dwell on emotions and morals learned. In this manner, you are memorable to the readers.
Why Listing Achievements Kills Your Essay’s Soul
To begin with, it is very boring to have a list of achievements in common app essay questions. Besides, it is written in dry report form. As a result, the examiner will start rambling halfway through. Hence, you need to introduce character and feeling. E.g., do not tend to write: I was captain.
Rather, write about team challenges that you encountered. In addition, describe how you inspired exhausted colleagues. This makes your leadership come into being. Lastly, emotions build relationships rather than achievements.
- First of all, accomplishments indicate that you are intelligent. But they do not make you appear to be interesting.
- In addition, all the applicants are outstanding achievers. Hence, your narrative has to be a unique one.
- Besides this, examiners are after real people. Therefore, tell us about your sufferings and development.
2. Writing a Life Story (The “Brag Sheet”)
You just got 650 words to write your Common App essay. Thus, it does not encompass your whole life. In addition, it is not unusual to attempt to define childhood and objectives. In turn, such a strategy results in a very superficial description.
Rather, you ought to deal with one anecdote. E.g. zoom in on a particular day. Moreover, explain that detail in detail. Then use it to analyse your personality. Consequently, a deep dive is more impactful. Lastly, there is no use of many splashes when there is one deep pond.
3. Using Overly Complex Vocabulary
To begin with, big words tend to make your essay appear bogus. Besides, examiners like straightforward and genuine language. Consequently, never write common app essay questions as you do not talk. An example: replace the word ‘use’ with ‘utilise’. Moreover, plain words result in better connections with readers. As a result, it brings out your personality. Lastly, it is always more impressive when it is real.
What Happens When You Use a Thesaurus?
To begin with, thesaurus always becomes a blunder. In addition, it renders your writing extremely unnatural. Subsequently, examiners do not believe in your real voice. As such, you will be required to write common app essay questions in the manner in which you usually talk. As an illustration, replace the word facilitate with help. In addition, plain words form a stronger reader bond. Consequently, your essay becomes authentic if you understand the hidden power of literacy. Lastly, simplicity is always better than jingoism.
Why Big Words Make You Sound Fake
Fancy words are extremely insincere to use in your essay. In addition, it appears that you are overdoing things. Thus, your readers doubt your sense of confidence and maturity. Hence, being authentic is never a bad plan. Examples include: write used rather than utilised. Moreover, the use of simple language demonstrates confidence and clarity. Consequently, your personality comes out clearly. Lastly, it is more impressive to be yourself.
- Inaccurate language in common app essay questions puts a barrier between the audience and readers. In addition to this, they are unable to relate to your story.
- Choose words you use daily. In this manner, you maintain a similar tone.
- Confidence is an element of bare articulation. You, therefore, seem to be more mature and intelligent.
How to Sound Smart without Big Words
Whenever you start your essay without big words, it is necessary to pay attention to ideas, not the choice of words. Furthermore, good thinking will also give rise to good writing when answering common app essay questions. Thus, clarify complicated thoughts using simple terms. As an illustration, short and strong sentences should be used throughout your essay. Moreover, good ideas do not require embellishment. Consequently, customers get to read what you are saying. Lastly, the last sophistication is simplicity.
4. Ignoring the Prompt Entirely
To begin with, it is a grave mistake to disregard the prompt. Besides, it demonstrates that you do not take simple orders. Therefore, your Common App essay question is rejected incompetently. This is why it is always good to read the prompt several times. As an example, when questioned on failure, write about failure. Moreover, connect each paragraph with the question. Last but certainly not least, when you give the right answers, it shows that you are serious.
What Happens When You Ignore the Prompt?
To start with, disrespecting the prompt is suicidal. In addition, it demonstrates that you are not capable of following directions. Therefore, examiners are not sure whether you pay attention to details. Your essay is therefore rejected very quickly. As an illustration, when they question them about failure, write about failure. Moreover, do not write about your summer vacation instead. Consequently, you end up squandering your sole opportunity. Lastly, you should always have a look at your essay in relation to the prompt.
| Aspect | On-Prompt Essay | Off-Prompt Essay |
|---|---|---|
| First Impression | Shows you follow instructions carefully | Suggests you are careless or distracted |
| Reader’s Reaction | Examiners feel satisfied | The reader feels confused and frustrated |
| Final Result | Moves forward in the application process | Gets rejected immediately |
Why Answering the Prompt Matters Most
To begin with, the timed exams test your listening abilities. In addition, colleges would desire students to be obedient. Thus, your essay should show the answer to the question. As an example, the various prompts demand varied personality traits. Moreover, its negligence implies either laxity or haughtiness. Consequently, you do not seem fit to be included. Lastly, being respectful of instructions is a sign of maturity and respect.
5. Trying to Sound Like Someone Else
It is never a good idea to play a game of pretending. In addition, tutors go through thousands of essays every year. As such, they can quite easily tell of angst and fraudulence. Hence, you should never act in ways that are not who you are. As an instance, do not pretend to be passionate about medicine. More so, one little true tale is worth more than big pretentious adventures. Consequently, your real personality comes out. And lastly, be yourself; this is your best strength.
- Posts like counterfeit essays are hollow and empty. Furthermore, the readers are unable to identify with artificial characters.
- Only write essay questions about what you really experienced. In such a manner, your voice does not sound unnatural.
- Authenticity instills credibility among the reader. They therefore do not forget you in thousands.
6. Being Too Cliché or Generic
Certain topics are overused in common app essay questions. To win the big game, you have to score the best on a test. If you think of volunteering abroad. These subjects are not prohibited. But you have to get a different angle. When you write about sports, do not write about the trophy. Give your attention to the blisters on your hands.
Pay attention to the silence of the locker room when there is a loss. Discover the fact that no one else will. This renders your story original. It teaches you that you have a different vision of the world. And so that is what the best colleges desire.
7. Lack of Personal Reflection
Reflections on events are essentially diary entries. In addition, the examiners must know what is going on in your mind. Thus, you need to give us what the experiences were like to you personally. E.g. do not merely say that you made a house. In addition, discuss how that moment was able to shift your vision. Consequently, the readers relate well to your feelings. Lastly, reflection teaches you to learn and develop your writing skills.
What Is Missing When You Only Describe Events?
Just describing events is like keeping a diary; it only says what happened. Examiners want to know how the experience affected you. For example, instead of just saying you built a house, explain how it felt, what you learned, and what challenges you faced. Sharing your thoughts and feelings makes your story meaningful.
Why Reflection Matters More Than Action
To begin with, there is no action without thought that is fruitless and vain. In addition to this, colleges desire students who reason. So, what is more important is the analysis rather than the events. As an example, a loss of a game only teaches one to be resilient when examined. In addition to that, maturity and self-awareness are evident in reflection. Consequently, college challenges seem to be ready. Lastly, intelligent students perform better in life.
8. Neglecting the First Sentence
The first sentence is your only opportunity to grab the reader’s attention. Furthermore, do not pay much attention to individual essays. As a result of this, they will read until they find a boring beginning of an essay question to read.
Consequently, you have to begin with something striking and special. As an illustration, drop readers immediately into action as described by leading essay writing services. More so, do not use dictionary definitions or generic statements. Consequently, curiosity makes them read more. Lastly, a good hook gives the overall tone of your essay.
| Aspect | Weak First Sentence | Strong First Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Example | “Since I was a child, I always loved science.” | “The Bunsen burner exploded, and everything went silent.” |
| Reader’s Reaction | Feels bored and expects generic content | Feels curious and wants to know more |
| Result | The reader might skim or stop reading | The reader is hooked until the very end |
Important Update on AI and Tools
And this is a contemporary reality test. In a recent survey by Intelligent, it is estimated that in the year 2024, about 53 percent of college applications will be flagged as using AI writing applications, such as ChatGPT.
In turn, AI-detection software is currently being used in academia, as confirmed by the multiple essay writing services. That is why you can brainstorm with AI, but you have to write the final draft yourself. What you have most is your original voice. Getting AI to write on your behalf is a sure way of being rejected. Be careful, be innovative,e and be human.
Conclusion
Your Common App essay questions must be answered in your own voice. Therefore, it is highly necessary to prevent the following eight missteps. Furthermore, examiners are reading thousands of essays a day. As a result, you have to ensure that yours is memorable for the right reasons. As an example, be real, meditate, and engage readers on the first page.
Also, you should begin at a young age and edit your work several times. Consequently, your real personality will be made obvious. Moreover, keep in mind that there is always a language that is simpler than complex words. In this manner, you will be in a position to stand out in the crowd.
Frequently Asked Questions about Common App Essay Questions
How long should my common app essay questions be?
The word count is set at 650 words. You do not need to go to the extreme, though. It should be about 250 words; however, 500-650 is the target. A short, well-developed essay is preferable to a long and winding one. All you need to do is make sure that each sentence is valuable. Provided you reach the word count, it is possible to look at whether you can eliminate unneeded adjectives. Make every word count.
Should I write about trauma or mental health in common app essay questions?
This is tricky. You may write about these things, but be careful about it. The essay is not supposed to be a therapy session. It is supposed to be about your strength and development. Do not cause the reader to be embarrassed or anxious on your behalf.
Rather than giving an account of the pain, put your emphasis on how you managed it. What did you learn? How are you stronger now? Put it in the form of a narrative of power, rather than of affliction. When the subject matter is too hot, one can opt to discuss a light topic.