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College Essays

Just as there are noteworthy examples of excellent college essays that admissions offices like to publish, so are there cringe-worthy examples of terrible college essays that end up being described by anonymous admissions officers on Reddit discussion boards.

While I won't guarantee that your essay will end up in the first category, I will say that you follow my advice in this article, your essay most assuredly won't end up in the second. How do you avoid writing a bad admissions essay? Read on to find out what makes an essay bad and to learn which college essay topics to avoid. I'll also explain how to recognize bad college essays—and what to do to if you end up creating one by accident.

What Makes Bad College Essays Bad

What exactly happens to turn a college essay terrible? Just as great personal statements combine an unexpected topic with superb execution, flawed personal statements compound problematic subject matter with poor execution.

Problems With the Topic

The primary way to screw up a college essay is to flub what the essay is about or how you've decided to discuss a particular experience. Badly chosen essay content can easily create an essay that is off-putting in one of a number of ways I'll discuss in the next section.

The essay is the place to let the admissions office of your target college get to know your personality, character, and the talents and skills that aren't on your transcript. So if you start with a terrible topic, not only will you end up with a bad essay, but you risk ruining the good impression that the rest of your application makes.

Some bad topics show admissions officers that you don't have a good sense of judgment or maturity , which is a problem since they are building a class of college students who have to be able to handle independent life on campus.

Other bad topics suggest that you are a boring person , or someone who doesn't process your experience in a colorful or lively way, which is a problem since colleges want to create a dynamic and engaged cohort of students.

Still other bad topics indicate that you're unaware of or disconnected from the outside world and focused only on yourself , which is a problem since part of the point of college is to engage with new people and new ideas, and admissions officers are looking for people who can do that.

Problems With the Execution

Sometimes, even if the experiences you discuss could be the foundation of a great personal statement, the way you've structured and put together your essay sends up warning flags. This is because the admissions essay is also a place to show the admissions team the maturity and clarity of your writing style.

One way to get this part wrong is to exhibit very faulty writing mechanics , like unclear syntax or incorrectly used punctuation. This is a problem since college-ready writing is one of the things that's expected from a high school graduate.

Another way to mess this up is to ignore prompt instructions either for creative or careless reasons. This can show admissions officers that you're either someone who simply blows off directions and instructions or someone who can't understand how to follow them . Neither is a good thing, since they are looking for people who are open to receiving new information from professors and not just deciding they know everything already.

College Essay Topics To Avoid

Want to know why you're often advised to write about something mundane and everyday for your college essay? That's because the more out-there your topic, the more likely it is to stumble into one of these trouble categories.

Too Personal

The problem with the overly personal essay topic is that revealing something very private can show that you don't really understand boundaries . And knowing where appropriate boundaries are will be key for living on your own with a bunch of people not related to you.

Unfortunately, stumbling into the TMI zone of essay topics is more common than you think. One quick test for checking your privacy-breaking level: if it's not something you'd tell a friendly stranger sitting next to you on the plane, maybe don't tell it to the admissions office.

• Describing losing your virginity, or anything about your sex life really. This doesn't mean you can't write about your sexual orientation—just leave out the actual physical act.
• Writing in too much detail about your illness, disability, any other bodily functions. Detailed meaningful discussion of what this physical condition has meant to you and your life is a great thing to write about. But stay away from body horror and graphic descriptions that are simply there for gratuitous shock value.
• Waxing poetic about your love for your significant other. Your relationship is adorable to the people currently involved in it, but those who don't know you aren't invested in this aspect of your life.
• Confessing to odd and unusual desires of the sexual or illegal variety. Your obsession with cultivating cacti is wonderful topic, while your obsession with researching explosives is a terrible one.

Too Revealing of Bad Judgment

Generally speaking, leave past illegal or immoral actions out of your essay . It's simply a bad idea to give admissions officers ammunition to dislike you.

Some exceptions might be if you did something in a very, very different mindset from the one you're in now (in the midst of escaping from danger, under severe coercion, or when you were very young, for example). Or if your essay is about explaining how you've turned over a new leaf and you have the transcript to back you up.

• Writing about committing crime as something fun or exciting. Unless it's on your permanent record, and you'd like a chance to explain how you've learned your lesson and changed, don't put this in your essay.
• Describing drug use or the experience of being drunk or high. Even if you're in a state where some recreational drugs are legal, you're a high school student. Your only exposure to mind-altering substances should be caffeine.
• Making up fictional stories about yourself as though they are true. You're unlikely to be a good enough fantasist to pull this off, and there's no reason to roll the dice on being discovered to be a liar.
• Detailing your personality flaws. Unless you have a great story of coping with one of these, leave deal-breakers like pathological narcissism out of your personal statement.

Too Overconfident

While it's great to have faith in your abilities, no one likes a relentless show-off. No matter how magnificent your accomplishments, if you decide to focus your essay on them, it's better to describe a setback or a moment of doubt rather that simply praising yourself to the skies.

• Bragging and making yourself the flawless hero of your essay. This goes double if you're writing about not particularly exciting achievements like scoring the winning goal or getting the lead in the play.
• Having no awareness of the actual scope of your accomplishments. It's lovely that you take time to help others, but volunteer-tutoring a couple of hours a week doesn't make you a saintly figure.

Too Clichéd or Boring

Remember your reader. In this case, you're trying to make yourself memorable to an admissions officer who has been reading thousands of other essays . If your essay makes the mistake of being boring or trite, it just won't register in that person's mind as anything worth paying attention to.

• Transcribing your resume into sentence form or writing about the main activity on your transcript. The application already includes your resume, or a detailed list of your various activities. Unless the prompt specifically asks you to write about your main activity, the essay needs to be about a facet of your interests and personality that doesn't come through the other parts of the application.
• Writing about sports. Every athlete tries to write this essay. Unless you have a completely off-the-wall story or unusual achievement, leave this overdone topic be.
• Being moved by your community service trip to a third-world country. Were you were impressed at how happy the people seemed despite being poor? Did you learn a valuable lesson about how privileged you are? Unfortunately, so has every other teenager who traveled on one of these trips. Writing about this tends to simultaneously make you sound unempathetic, clueless about the world, way over-privileged, and condescending. Unless you have a highly specific, totally unusual story to tell, don't do it.
• Reacting with sadness to a sad, but very common experience. Unfortunately, many of the hard, formative events in your life are fairly universal. So, if you're going to write about death or divorce, make sure to focus on how you dealt with this event, so the essay is something only you could possibly have written. Only detailed, idiosyncratic description can save this topic.
• Going meta. Don't write about the fact that you're writing the essay as we speak, and now the reader is reading it, and look, the essay is right here in the reader's hand. It's a technique that seems clever, but has already been done many times in many different ways.
• Offering your ideas on how to fix the world. This is especially true if your solution is an easy fix, if only everyone would just listen to you. Trust me, there's just no way you are being realistically appreciative of the level of complexity inherent in the problem you're describing.
• Starting with a famous quotation. There usually is no need to shore up your own words by bringing in someone else's. Of course, if you are writing about a particular phrase that you've adopted as a life motto, feel free to include it. But even then, having it be the first line in your essay feels like you're handing the keys over to that author and asking them to drive.
• Using an everyday object as a metaphor for your life/personality. "Shoes. They are like this, and like that, and people love them for all of these reasons. And guess what? They are just like me."

Too Off-Topic

Unlike the essays you've been writing in school where the idea is to analyze something outside of yourself, the main subject of your college essay should be you, your background, your makeup, and your future . Writing about someone or something else might well make a great essay, but not for this context.

• Paying tribute to someone very important to you. Everyone would love to meet your grandma, but this isn't the time to focus on her amazing coming of age story. If you do want to talk about a person who is important to your life, dwell on the ways you've been impacted by them, and how you will incorporate this impact into your future.
• Documenting how well other people do things, say things, are active, while you remain passive and inactive in the essay. Being in the orbit of someone else's important lab work, or complex stage production, or meaningful political activism is a fantastic learning moment. But if you decide to write about, your essay should be about your learning and how you've been influenced, not about the other person's achievements.
• Concentrating on a work of art that deeply moved you. Watch out for the pitfall of writing an analytical essay about that work, and not at all about your reaction to it or how you've been affected since. Check out our explanation of how to answer Topic D of the ApplyTexas application to get some advice on writing about someone else's work while making sure your essay still points back at you.

(Image: Pieter Christoffel Wonder [Public domain] , via Wikimedia Commons)

Too Offensive

With this potential mistake, you run the risk of showing a lack of self-awareness or the ability to be open to new ideas . Remember, no reader wants to be lectured at. If that's what your essay does, you are demonstrating an inability to communicate successfully with others.

Also, remember that no college is eager to admit someone who is too close-minded to benefit from being taught by others. A long, one-sided essay about a hot-button issue will suggest that you are exactly that.

• Ranting at length about political, religious, or other contentious topics. You simply don't know where the admissions officer who reads your essay stands on any of these issues. It's better to avoid upsetting or angering that person.
• Writing a one-sided diatribe about guns, abortion, the death penalty, immigration, or anything else in the news. Even if you can marshal facts in your argument, this essay is simply the wrong place to take a narrow, unempathetic side in an ongoing debate.
• Mentioning anything negative about the school you're applying to. Again, your reader is someone who works there and presumably is proud of the place. This is not the time to question the admissions officer's opinions or life choices.

College Essay Execution Problems To Avoid

Bad college essays aren't only caused by bad topics. Sometimes, even if you're writing about an interesting, relevant topic, you can still seem immature or unready for college life because of the way you present that topic—the way you actually write your personal statement. Check to make sure you haven't made any of the common mistakes on this list.

Tone-Deafness

Admissions officers are looking for resourcefulness, the ability to be resilient, and an active and optimistic approach to life —these are all qualities that create a thriving college student. Essays that don't show these qualities are usually suffering from tone-deafness.

• Being whiny or complaining about problems in your life. Is the essay about everyone doing things to/against you? About things happening to you, rather than you doing anything about them? That perspective is a definite turn-off.
• Trying and failing to use humor. You may be very funny in real life, but it's hard to be successfully funny in this context, especially when writing for a reader who doesn't know you. If you do want to use humor, I'd recommend the simplest and most straightforward version: being self-deprecating and low-key.
• Talking down to the reader, or alternately being self-aggrandizing. No one enjoys being condescended to. In this case, much of the function of your essay is to charm and make yourself likable, which is unlikely to happen if you adopt this tone.
• Being pessimistic, cynical, and generally depressive. You are applying to college because you are looking forward to a future of learning, achievement, and self-actualization. This is not the time to bust out your existential ennui and your jaded, been-there-done-that attitude toward life.

(Image: Eduard Munch [Public Domain] , via Wikimedia Commons)

Lack of Personality

One good question to ask yourself is: could anyone else have written this essay ? If the answer is yes, then you aren't doing a good job of representing your unique perspective on the world. It's very important to demonstrate your ability to be a detailed observer of the world, since that will be one of your main jobs as a college student.

• Avoiding any emotions, and appearing robot-like and cold in the essay. Unlike essays that you've been writing for class, this essay is meant to be a showcase of your authorial voice and personality. It may seem strange to shift gears after learning how to take yourself out of your writing, but this is the place where you have to put as much as yourself in as possible.
• Skipping over description and specific details in favor of writing only in vague generalities. Does your narrative feel like a newspaper horoscope, which could apply to every other person who was there that day? Then you're doing it wrong and need to refocus on your reaction, feelings, understanding, and transformation.

Off-Kilter Style

There's some room for creativity here, yes, but a college essay isn't a free-for-all postmodern art class . True, there are prompts that specifically call for your most out-of-left-field submission, or allow you to submit a portfolio or some other work sample instead of a traditional essay. But on a standard application, it's better to stick to traditional prose, split into paragraphs, further split into sentences.

• Submitting anything other than just the materials asked for on your application. Don't send food to the admissions office, don't write your essay on clothing or shoes, don't create a YouTube channel about your undying commitment to the school. I know there are a lot of urban legends about "that one time this crazy thing worked," but they are either not true or about something that will not work a second time.
• Writing your essay in verse, in the form of a play, in bullet points, as an acrostic, or any other non-prose form. Unless you really have a way with poetry or playwriting, and you are very confident that you can meet the demands of the prompt and explain yourself well in this form, don't discard prose simply for the sake of being different.
• Using as many "fancy" words as possible and getting very far away from sounding like yourself. Admissions officers are unanimous in wanting to hear your not fully formed teenage voice in your essay. This means that you should write at the top of your vocabulary range and syntax complexity, but don't trade every word up for a thesaurus synonym. Your essay will suffer for it.

Failure to Proofread

Most people have a hard time checking over their own work. This is why you have to make sure that someone else proofreads your writing . This is the one place where you can, should—and really must—get someone who knows all about grammar, punctuation and has a good eye for detail to take a red pencil to your final draft.

Otherwise, you look like you either don't know the basic rules or writing (in which case, are you really ready for college work?) or don't care enough to present yourself well (in which case, why would the admissions people care about admitting you?).

• Typos, grammatical mistakes, punctuation flubs, weird font/paragraph spacing issues. It's true that these are often unintentional mistakes. But caring about getting it right is a way to demonstrate your work ethic and dedication to the task at hand.
• Going over the word limit. Part of showing your brilliance is being able to work within arbitrary rules and limitations. Going over the word count points to a lack of self-control, which is not a very attractive feature in a college applicant.
• Repeating the same word(s) or sentence structure over and over again. This makes your prose monotonous and hard to read.

Bad College Essay Examples—And How to Fix Them

The beauty of writing is that you get to rewrite. So if you think of your essay as a draft waiting to be revised into a better version rather than as a precious jewel that can't bear being touched, you'll be in far better shape to correct the issues that always crop up!

Now let's take a look at some actual college essay drafts to see where the writer is going wrong and how the issue could be fixed.

Essay #1: The "I Am Writing This Essay as We Speak" Meta-Narrative

Was your childhood home destroyed by a landspout tornado? Yeah, neither was mine. I know that intro might have given the impression that this college essay will be about withstanding disasters, but the truth is that it isn't about that at all.

In my junior year, I always had in mind an image of myself finishing the college essay months before the deadline. But as the weeks dragged on and the deadline drew near, it soon became clear that at the rate things are going I would probably have to make new plans for my October, November and December.

Falling into my personal wormhole, I sat down with my mom to talk about colleges. "Maybe you should write about Star Trek ," she suggested, "you know how you've always been obsessed with Captain Picard, calling him your dream mentor. Unique hobbies make good topics, right? You'll sound creative!" I played with the thought in my mind, tapping my imaginary communicator pin and whispering "Computer. Tea. Earl Grey. Hot. And then an Essay." Nothing happened. Instead, I sat quietly in my room wrote the old-fashioned way. Days later I emerged from my room disheveled, but to my dismay, this college essay made me sound like just a guy who can't get over the fact that he'll never take the Starfleet Academy entrance exam. So, I tossed my essay away without even getting to disintegrate it with a phaser set on stun.

I fell into a state of panic. My college essay. My image of myself in senior year. Almost out of nowhere, Robert Jameson Smith offered his words of advice. Perfect! He suggested students begin their college essay by listing their achievements and letting their essay materialize from there. My heart lifted, I took his advice and listed three of my greatest achievements - mastering my backgammon strategy, being a part of TREE in my sophomore year, and performing "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General" from The Pirates of Penzance in public. And sure enough, I felt inspiration hit me and began to type away furiously into the keyboard about my experience in TREE, or Trees Require Engaged Environmentalists. I reflected on the current state of deforestation, and described the dichotomy of it being both understandable why farmers cut down forests for farmland, and how dangerous this is to our planet. Finally, I added my personal epiphany to the end of my college essay as the cherry on the vanilla sundae, as the overused saying goes.

After 3 weeks of figuring myself out, I have converted myself into a piece of writing. As far as achievements go, this was definitely an amazing one. The ability to transform a human being into 603 words surely deserves a gold medal. Yet in this essay, I was still being nagged by a voice that couldn't be ignored. Eventually, I submitted to that yelling inner voice and decided that this was not the right essay either.

In the middle of a hike through Philadelphia's Fairmount Park, I realized that the college essay was nothing more than an embodiment of my character. The two essays I have written were not right because they have failed to become more than just words on recycled paper. The subject failed to come alive. Certainly my keen interest in Star Trek and my enthusiasm for TREE are a great part of who I am, but there were other qualities essential in my character that did not come across in the essays.

With this realization, I turned around as quickly as I could without crashing into a tree.

What Essay #1 Does Well

Here are all things that are working on all cylinders for this personal statement as is.

Killer First Sentence

Was your childhood home destroyed by a landspout tornado? Yeah, neither was mine.

• A strange fact. There are different kinds of tornadoes? What is a "landspout tornado" anyway?
• A late-night-deep-thoughts hypothetical. What would it be like to be a kid whose house was destroyed in this unusual way?
• Direct engagement with the reader. Instead of asking "what would it be like to have a tornado destroy a house" it asks "was your house ever destroyed."

Gentle, Self-Deprecating Humor That Lands Well

I played with the thought in my mind, tapping my imaginary communicator pin and whispering "Computer. Tea. Earl Grey. Hot. And then an Essay." Nothing happened. Instead, I sat quietly in my room wrote the old-fashioned way. Days later I emerged from my room disheveled, but to my dismay, this college essay made me sound like just a guy who can't get over the fact that he'll never take the Starfleet Academy entrance exam. So, I tossed my essay away without even getting to disintegrate it with a phaser set on stun.

The author has his cake and eats it too here: both making fun of himself for being super into the Star Trek mythos, but also showing himself being committed enough to try whispering a command to the Enterprise computer alone in his room. You know, just in case.

A Solid Point That Is Made Paragraph by Paragraph

The meat of the essay is that the two versions of himself that the author thought about portraying each fails in some way to describe the real him. Neither an essay focusing on his off-beat interests, nor an essay devoted to his serious activism could capture everything about a well-rounded person in 600 words.

(Image: fir0002 via Wikimedia Commons .)

Where Essay #1 Needs Revision

Rewriting these flawed parts will make the essay shine.

Spending Way Too Long on the Metanarrative

I know that intro might have given the impression that this college essay will be about withstanding disasters, but the truth is that it isn't about that at all.

After 3 weeks of figuring myself out, I have converted myself into a piece of writing. As far as achievements go, this was definitely an amazing one. The ability to transform a human being into 603 words surely deserves a gold medal.

Look at how long and draggy these paragraphs are, especially after that zippy opening. Is it at all interesting to read about how someone else found the process of writing hard? Not really, because this is a very common experience.

In the rewrite, I'd advise condensing all of this to maybe a sentence to get to the meat of the actual essay .

Letting Other People Do All the Doing

I sat down with my mom to talk about colleges. "Maybe you should write about Star Trek ," she suggested, "you know how you've always been obsessed with Captain Picard, calling him your dream mentor. Unique hobbies make good topics, right? You'll sound creative!"

Almost out of nowhere, Robert Jameson Smith offered his words of advice. Perfect! He suggested students begin their college essay by listing their achievements and letting their essay materialize from there.

Twice in the essay, the author lets someone else tell him what to do. Not only that, but it sounds like both of the "incomplete" essays were dictated by the thoughts of other people and had little to do with his own ideas, experiences, or initiative.

In the rewrite, it would be better to recast both the Star Trek and the TREE versions of the essay as the author's own thoughts rather than someone else's suggestions . This way, the point of the essay—taking apart the idea that a college essay could summarize life experience—is earned by the author's two failed attempts to write that other kind of essay.

Leaving the Insight and Meaning Out of His Experiences

Both the Star Trek fandom and the TREE activism were obviously important life experiences for this author—important enough to be potential college essay topic candidates. But there is no description of what the author did with either one, nor any explanation of why these were so meaningful to his life.

It's fine to say that none of your achievements individually define you, but in order for that to work, you have to really sell the achievements themselves.

In the rewrite, it would be good to explore what he learned about himself and the world by pursuing these interests . How did they change him or seen him into the person he is today?

Not Adding New Shades and Facets of Himself Into the Mix

So, I tossed my essay away without even getting to disintegrate it with a phaser set on stun.

Yet in this essay, I was still being nagged by a voice that couldn't be ignored. Eventually, I submitted to that yelling inner voice and decided that this was not the right essay either.

In both of these passages, there is the perfect opportunity to point out what exactly these failed versions of the essay didn't capture about the author . In the next essay draft, I would suggest subtly making a point about his other qualities.

For example, after the Star Trek paragraph, he could talk about other culture he likes to consume, especially if he can discuss art forms he is interested in that would not be expected from someone who loves Star Trek .

Or, after the TREE paragraph, the author could explain why this second essay was no better at capturing him than the first. What was missing? Why is the self in the essay shouting—is it because this version paints him as an overly aggressive activist?

Essay #2: The "I Once Saw Poor People" Service Trip Essay

Unlike other teenagers, I'm not concerned about money, or partying, or what others think of me. Unlike other eighteen year-olds, I think about my future, and haven't become totally materialistic and acquisitive. My whole outlook on life changed after I realized that my life was just being handed to me on a silver spoon, and yet there were those in the world who didn't have enough food to eat or place to live. I realized that the one thing that this world needed more than anything was compassion; compassion for those less fortunate than us.

During the summer of 2006, I went on a community service trip to rural Peru to help build an elementary school for kids there. I expected harsh conditions, but what I encountered was far worse. It was one thing to watch commercials asking for donations to help the unfortunate people in less developed countries, yet it was a whole different story to actually live it. Even after all this time, I can still hear babies crying from hunger; I can still see the filthy rags that they wore; I can still smell the stench of misery and hopelessness. But my most vivid memory was the moment I first got to the farming town. The conditions of it hit me by surprise; it looked much worse in real life than compared to the what our group leader had told us. Poverty to me and everyone else I knew was a foreign concept that people hear about on the news or see in documentaries. But this abject poverty was their life, their reality. And for the brief ten days I was there, it would be mine too. As all of this realization came at once, I felt overwhelmed by the weight of what was to come. Would I be able to live in the same conditions as these people? Would I catch a disease that no longer existed in the first world, or maybe die from drinking contaminated water? As these questions rolled around my already dazed mind, I heard a soft voice asking me in Spanish, "Are you okay? Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?" I looked down to see a small boy, around nine years of age, who looked starved, and cold, wearing tattered clothing, comforting me. These people who have so little were able to forget their own needs, and put those much more fortunate ahead of themselves. It was at that moment that I saw how selfish I had been. How many people suffered like this in the world, while I went about life concerned about nothing at all?

Thinking back on the trip, maybe I made a difference, maybe not. But I gained something much more important. I gained the desire to make the world a better place for others. It was in a small, poverty-stricken village in Peru that I finally realized that there was more to life than just being alive.

What Essay #2 Does Well

Let's first point out what this draft has going for it.

Clear Chronology

This is an essay that tries to explain a shift in perspective. There are different ways to structure this overarching idea, but a chronological approach that starts with an earlier opinion, describes a mind changing event, and ends with the transformed point of view is an easy and clear way to lay this potentially complex subject out.

(Image: User:Lite via Wikimedia Commons)

Where Essay #2 Needs Revision

Now let's see what needs to be changed in order for this essay to pass muster.

Condescending, Obnoxious Tone

Unlike other teenagers, I'm not concerned about money, or partying, or what others think of me. Unlike other eighteen year-olds, I think about my future, and haven't become totally materialistic and acquisitive.

This is a very broad generalization, which doesn't tend to be the best way to formulate an argument—or to start an essay. It just makes this author sound dismissive of a huge swath of the population.

In the rewrite, this author would be way better off just concentrate on what she want to say about herself, not pass judgment on "other teenagers," most of whom she doesn't know and will never meet.

I realized that the one thing that this world needed more than anything was compassion; compassion for those less fortunate than us.

Coming from someone who hasn't earned her place in the world through anything but the luck of being born, the word "compassion" sounds really condescending. Calling others "less fortunate" when you're a senior in high school has a dehumanizing quality to it.

These people who have so little were able to forget their own needs, and put those much more fortunate in front of themselves.

Again, this comes across as very patronizing. Not only that, but to this little boy the author was clearly not looking all that "fortunate"—instead, she looked pathetic enough to need comforting.

In the next draft, a better hook could be making the essay about the many different kinds of shifting perspectives the author encountered on that trip . A more meaningful essay would compare and contrast the points of view of the TV commercials, to what the group leader said, to the author's own expectations, and finally to this child's point of view.

Vague, Unobservant Description

During the summer of 2006, I went on a community service trip to rural Peru to help build an elementary school for kids there. I expected harsh conditions, but what I encountered was far worse. It was one thing to watch commercials asking for donations to help the unfortunate people in less developed countries, yet it was a whole different story to actually live it. Even after all this time, I can still hear babies crying from hunger; I can still see the filthy rags that they wore; I can still smell the stench of misery and hopelessness.

Phrases like "cries of the small children from not having enough to eat" and "dirt stained rags" seem like descriptions, but they're really closer to incurious and completely hackneyed generalizations. Why were the kids were crying? How many kids? All the kids? One specific really loud kid?

The same goes for "filthy rags," which is both an incredibly insensitive way to talk about the clothing of these villagers, and again shows a total lack of interest in their life. Why were their clothes dirty? Were they workers or farmers so their clothes showing marks of labor? Did they have Sunday clothes? Traditional clothes they would put on for special occasions? Did they make their own clothes? That would be a good reason to keep wearing clothing even if it had "stains" on it.

The rewrite should either make this section more specific and less reliant on cliches, or should discard it altogether .

The conditions of it hit me by surprise; it looked much worse in real life than compared to the what our group leader had told us. Poverty to me and everyone else I knew was a foreign concept that people hear about on the news or see in documentaries. But this abject poverty was their life, their reality.

If this is the "most vivid memory," then I would expect to read all the details that have been seared into the author's brain. What did their leader tell them? What was different in real life? What was the light like? What did the houses/roads/grass/fields/trees/animals/cars look like? What time of day was it? Did they get there by bus, train, or plane? Was there an airport/train station/bus terminal? A city center? Shops? A marketplace?

There are any number of details to include here when doing another drafting pass.

Lack of Insight or Maturity

But this abject poverty was their life, their reality. And for the brief ten days I was there, it would be mine too. As all of this realization came at once, I felt overwhelmed by the weight of what was to come. Would I be able to live in the same conditions as these people? Would I catch a disease that no longer existed in the first world, or maybe die from drinking contaminated water?

Without a framing device explaining that this initial panic was an overreaction, this section just makes the author sound whiny, entitled, melodramatic, and immature . After all, this isn't a a solo wilderness trek—the author is there with a paid guided program. Just how much mortality is typically associated with these very standard college-application-boosting service trips?

In a rewrite, I would suggest including more perspective on the author's outsized and overprivileged response here. This would fit well with a new focus on the different points of view on this village the author encountered.

Unearned, Clichéd "Deep Thoughts"

But I gained something much more important. I gained the desire to make the world a better place for others. It was in a small, poverty-stricken village in Peru that I finally realized that there was more to life than just being alive.

Is it really believable that this is what the author learned? There is maybe some evidence to suggest that the author was shaken somewhat out of a comfortable, materialistic existence. But what does "there is more to life than just being alive" even really mean? This conclusion is rather vague, and seems mostly a non sequitur.

In a rewrite, the essay should be completely reoriented to discuss how differently others see us than we see ourselves, pivoting on the experience of being pitied by someone who you thought was pitiable. Then, the new version can end by on a note of being better able to understand different points of view and other people's perspectives .

The Bottom Line

• Bad college essays have problems either with their topics or their execution.
• The essay is how admissions officers learn about your personality, point of view, and maturity level, so getting the topic right is a key factor in letting them see you as an aware, self-directed, open-minded applicant who is going to thrive in an environment of independence.
• The essay is also how admissions officers learn that you are writing at a ready-for-college level, so screwing up the execution shows that you either don't know how to write, or don't care enough to do it well.
• The main ways college essay topics go wrong is bad taste, bad judgment, and lack of self-awareness.
• The main ways college essays fail in their execution have to do with ignoring format, syntax, and genre expectations.

What's Next?

Want to read some excellent college essays now that you've seen some examples of flawed one? Take a look through our roundup of college essay examples published by colleges and then get help with brainstorming your perfect college essay topic .

Need some guidance on other parts of the application process? Check out our detailed, step-by-step guide to college applications for advice.

Are you considering taking the SAT or ACT again before you submit your application? Read about our famous test prep guides for hints and strategies for a better score.

Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education.

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January 17, 2021

Red Flags in College Essays

Today, we thought we’d share with our readers some verbiage that college applicants so often include in their college essays — or elsewhere in their applications — that significantly hurts their chances of admission to highly selective universities. In our experience, these students don’t realize these words will essentially ding their chances of admission. Yet the second we point it out to them, they know. They know it hurt them. They know it jeopardized their chances. And they just want to kick themselves because it’s oh so obvious. So what are some examples of red flag verbiage to avoid in college essays? Heck, we’ll share with you five examples followed by our thoughts!

5 Examples of Red Flag Verbiage to Avoid in College Essays

• An article in The New York Times made me realize I wasn’t alone. So many other teenagers like me have also faced depression during these days of the pandemic. Don’t write about depression! Many of us have suffered from depression at some point during this ongoing pandemic. But don’t share it with admissions officers. They’ll never tell you this but they don’t want to offer admission to depressed students. And why? Because depressed students are more likely to be unhappy and transfer. They want happy kids!
• My brothers and I often have water gun fights. Don’t write about water guns. They’ll think you like guns. Yes, admissions officers are reading your application in 3-5 minutes. No gun fights. Even water gun fights. Admissions officers will think you’ll bring guns to their campus.
• While my school has not allowed me to take this course, I decided to take it outside of my school. Don’t bash your school. Admissions officers will think that if you can bash your high school, you can bash their college. Be positive. Just take the class outside of your school. No need to criticize!
• As a child, I used to love buildings Legos. Don’t write about you as a child. They want to learn about you as a young adult — not as a child.
• My grandmother was my hero. She was born in Austria and came to America with nothing but a loaf of bread. Don’t write about grandma’s story . Admissions officers want to learn about you!

These, of course, are merely five super common examples of how students — often unknowingly — hamstring their chances of admission to America’s elite universities. But you know what? We’ll share some more examples in the weeks to come so, loyal readers, do stay tuned!

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6 College Application Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Reviewed by:

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 4/26/24

Crafting the perfect application takes time: so how do you avoid red flags along the way? Read on to learn what things to do for college applications to avoid common mistakes and more.  

Applying to college can be intimidating, particularly when juggling many parts and trying to avoid any mistakes. Submitting a perfect application is always ideal: you want to give yourself the best chance of acceptance . 

Submitting an incomplete application and other common college application mistakes can affect your chances of admission. We’ll explore how to avoid these common red flags and things to do to make your college application stand out instead. 

Submitting an Incomplete Application 

Colleges provide you with clear application instructions for a reason - they want you to follow them. So, what happens if your college application is incomplete? Submitting incomplete applications is one of the most common college application pitfalls and the easiest to avoid! 

By submitting an incomplete application, you miss entire application parts and crucial questions, which can delay the admissions review process. 

This only provides colleges with a partial picture of you, harming your chances of admission. If an admissions officer has two applications in front of them, one which clearly outlines the applicant’s goals, strengths, and fit for the program, and another provides only partial information, which one would they admit?

How to Avoid It

Now that you know what happens if your college applications are incomplete, it’s best to avoid this mistake at all costs. The best way to avoid this misstep on your college application is to create a list of application deadlines and requirements. 

Although it may take time to collect information for every college you intend to apply to, doing so ensures you won’t miss anything. 

Once you have compiled all the information you need, work through each point and tick it off when you’re done. 

Mike Perry , Director of Undergraduate Admission at Florida Institute of Technology , also recommends completing optional sections. “Most colleges and universities put it on there because they want the information to help them make an informed decision,” Perry explains. 

Most colleges, like Fordham University , won’t penalize you for not completing any optional writing sections. However, these sections are excellent places to address weaker aspects of your application. These factors can include but are not limited to lower SAT scores , a lack of extracurriculars, or a low GPA.  

Not Completing Curriculum Requirements 

Although colleges review applications holistically, you need to satisfy your preferred program’s curriculum requirements before you can gain admission. If you don’t meet this requirement, your college application will be automatically disqualified or admitted provisionally under the condition you complete the appropriate remedial courses.

Completing coursework requirements can be difficult, as they vary between colleges. Engineering programs, for example, will likely require physics and calculus classes compared to a humanities program. On the other hand, humanities programs typically ask for more writing experience. 

Some colleges, like Yale University , do not have specific entrance requirements but want to see students excel in certain core subjects. Yale, for example, seeks “students who have taken a balanced set of the rigorous classes available to them” and recommends taking annual courses in: 

• Foreign language (at least one)  
• Social sciences. 

To avoid course-related college application mistakes, build your college list and research each of their curriculum requirements. Remember that coursework requirements can differ between colleges, so review your course list carefully. 

Ensure you know the difference between a college’s required and recommended courses because you should complete required courses before pursuing the recommended options. Stanford , for example, suggests you complete the following courses : 

• English (four years)
• Foreign Language (three or more years)
• History/Social Studies (three or more years)
• Mathematics (four years)
• Science (three or more years)

MIT recommends you complete the following classes : 

• Biology (one year)
• Chemistry (one year)
• English (one year)
• Foreign Language (two years)
• History/ Social Sciences (two years)
• Math (including calculus) 
• Physics (one year) 

Once you have made a list of the courses to take, match them with the classes available to you. If your high school doesn’t offer challenging classes, explore other options like dual enrollment, IB, or AP classes at local colleges or virtual high schools. 

Inappropriate Social Media Posts 

Colleges have denied admission and rescinded offers of acceptance from candidates based on social media content. Harvard University rejected ten students in 2017 due to offensive memes shared on Facebook. 

Three years later, the University of Florida , Cornell , and Marquette , among several other schools, rescinded acceptance offers due to applicants’ racist social media posts . 

Even social media posts created by candidates years before they submitted a college application can affect their candidacy. Harvard rescinded its acceptance of Kyle Kashuv , a survivor of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, in 2019 after racist tweets from two years prior were uncovered. 

Source: Inside Higher Ed 

How to Avoid It 

Although the practice of checking social media profiles is declining, it isn’t dead. So, don’t post anything sexist, racist, bigoted, or threatening on social media. 

Instead, create a digital portfolio that highlights your soft skills, such as leadership, collaboration, and time management. Emphasizing these qualities is a great way to stand out and showcase your skills. 

The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers also notes that 52% of its survey respondents who checked a student’s social media activity continued to do so after offering them admission. So, continue to promote a positive image of yourself on social media even after you’re accepted. 

Submitting a Resume That’s Too Long  

A long resume is difficult to read and isn’t impactful. Submitting a resume that’s too long or includes unnecessary information won’t increase your chances of admission. Ask yourself, do college programs really need to know about the one term you spent playing soccer in Grade 9? 

Keep your college resume simple, concise, and impactful. If you can’t fit everything onto one or two pages, rewrite it. A great college resume will include your:

• Name, e-mail, and address
• High school information and graduation date 
• GPA (weighted), class rank, and SAT/ ACT scores
• Academic publications, honors, and awards
• Completed coursework including college courses, summer programs, and workshops
• Extracurriculars, including community service
• Work experience

If you have any unusual or special skills or hobbies, such as fluency in many languages, include them in your resume. Differentiating your application with these special skills and hobbies is a great thing to do to make your college application stand out. 

Colleges are interested in the scope of your involvement in extracurricular and academic activities. Creating a concise resume provides you with more space to highlight specific elements that summarize your achievements: this is what colleges like to see on applications.

If you’re struggling to create a concise college resume, you can get help from a professional or your school counselor to create a stellar resume.

Writing Generic Admissions Essays 

Many students wonder, “how are college applications reviewed?” Most colleges review applications holistically. While your GPA and test scores are essential application components, they can’t speak to qualities such as leadership skills and empathy. 

Colleges, therefore, use essays to uncover more about who you are, your ambitions, and whether you’ll be a good fit for their program. 

College admissions officers read thousands of essays each year, so your writing needs to stand out. Remember that writing impersonal essays won’t let your personality shine and can raise red flags in college applications.

This is one of the college application mistakes that can take you from standing out as an otherwise strong candidate to blending in with the masses!

The most important aspect of writing your admissions essays is simple — be authentic.  As Walter Caffey , Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Admission and Student Aid at Wheaton College in Massachusetts, stresses, "We want students to be original. We want them to be themselves.” 

It can be challenging to select a topic and write about it. After all, you are condensing your relevant experiences into usually less than 1000 words. However, it’s important to self-reflect and select a compelling topic, as writing about it will be much easier. 

Ensure you inject your personality into the essays; look inward and share your thoughts, feelings, actions, and reflections. Providing detailed and specific accounts of these insights adds the differentiation colleges seek. Even if you write about a topic many can relate to, the details you provide must make it a one-of-a-kind narrative. 

Looking at essay examples submitted by admitted students can help guide your writing. While you should never copy their work, you can analyze their writing and find inspiration. 

Let’s review one college admissions essay example from an admitted student at Johns Hopkins University. 

College Admissions Essay Example 

The writer outlines the tricky process of crocheting a unicorn. After working on it for several days, their work finally resembles something like a unicorn, and, reflecting on the process, they write: 

“Very much like learning how to crochet, my journey in forging my own path and finding a passion was confusing, messy, and at times infuriating. Even in primary school, I had heard all the stories of individuals finding their own route in life. I had been told stories of those who found their passion at a young age and were exceptionally proficient at their craft, of those that abandoned their interests and pursued a lucrative career, even those who chose their dreams but regretted it afterward. This weighed heavily on me, as I was determined to have a success story as many of my other family members had. The only problem was that I did not have a direction.

In the years following primary school, I stepped out of my comfort zone in a frenzy to find a passion. I joined the school orchestra where I played the violin, and a debate class to practice public speaking and become much more eloquent. At my ballet school, I branched out to contemporary and jazz dance. I stuffed myself with an experience similar to an amigurumi engorged with batting. I found myself enjoying all of those activities but soon enough, I was swamped with extracurriculars. Just like the tangles of white yarn on my desk, I was pulled in all directions. I still felt lost. To make things worse, it seemed as if everyone else had found their path in life, and they had all become white unicorns while I was still doubting the stitch I just made.

It was not until high school that I realized that I could view this mission to find a passion from another perspective. While successfully completing a crochet project is an accomplishment itself, the motions of making slip knots, single or double crochets takes you on an adventure as well. The knots that I had encountered in my craft were evidence of my experiences and what shaped me as an individual. My exploration of various paths through detours may have sometimes resulted in roadblocks, but I continued to persevere and learn from my experiences, applying the skills that I have gained to future knots. The mini-adventures that I went on were all crucial to me in the greater journey of life.

Through trial and error, the current adventure that I am on resonates the most with me, taking me down the path of service and environmental activism. However, I have learned that no one path is static, and I can be on more than one path at a time. While I may only be halfway to the proportionate unicorn amigurumi that some others may have already achieved, I still have so much to learn and so much that I want to learn, and so my journey to grow continues.” 

Why this is a good essay : The writer’s response provides the reader with a clear picture of their passions; their interests include crochet, dancing, environmental activism, and playing the violin. Their essay is unique, engaging, and impactful. 

They also explore their approach to new things. Throughout the essay, they reflect on their journey of pushing themselves outside their comfort zone and continually developing as a person, which Johns Hopkins values. 

Not Demonstrating Why You Are a Good Fit For a School

Universities admit students who will contribute to their academic and social environments. As Lee Coffin, the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Dartmouth College , explains, “We’re looking to populate the class with people who are going to complement the community that we’re trying to build.” 

Submitting a generic application that doesn’t demonstrate why you are a good fit for a college’s program is destined for failure. If you don’t explain how you will merge into an institution’s culture, curriculum, and community, your application may be seen as uncompelling. 

One of the best things to do in your college application is to demonstrate you're a good fit for the school through your admissions essays. Start the process by doing some college research and listing what aspects of a school entice you. This can include:

• Student clubs/ organizations/ societies you want to join
• Professors you want to work alongside
• Research institutions that interest you 
• Elements of the curriculum that excite you 

Admissions officers want to envision how you will become an active member of their community, so give detailed examples showing how you will actively participate. Whatever examples you include, ensure you explain why they interest you and how they will help you achieve your goals.

Another subtle way to convince admissions officers you’re a great fit is to align your essay’s content with its mission and values. Rice University, for example, has the following four core values :

• Responsibility 

Perhaps you have volunteered for years in your community. Your volunteer work could be the perfect topic as it also aligns with Rice’s values of responsibility and community. Remember, colleges like to see application content related to their school’s mission! 

Other College Application Mistakes to Avoid

While we’ve listed some of the most common application errors, these are other major red flags you should avoid: 

• Submitting an application riddled with grammar and spelling errors 
• Obtaining generic letters of recommendation from people who don’t know you well enough to vouch for your character 
• Submitting essays that don’t match your academic ability or any inconsistencies in your performance that don’t make sense 
• Participating in too few or no extracurricular activities or participating in so many that you’ve stretched yourself way too thin
• Unexplained circumstances for grade dips, sudden curriculum changes, or disciplinary action
• Writing application essays that disregard the word limit and are way too short or long 
• Writing your essays in a tone that is either too strict or much too casual 
• Coming across as unpassionate or disinterested 

Crafting the perfect application can be challenging, but avoiding these common pitfalls will help you become a stronger candidate. 

Make Your College Application Shine

Submitting a stellar application can be tricky, but hopefully, you now understand more about the admissions process and can avoid these common college application mistakes. Ensure you follow every college’s admissions instructions and submit a complete application, including school-specific coursework requirements.  

Maintain a professional, if not neutral, social media presence throughout the application process. Additionally, create essays that show your fit and your personality. Good luck with the application process. 

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Top 11 College Application Red Flags to Avoid

September 12, 2020 by Veritas Essays Team | Common App , Application , ECs , Rec Letter , Declared Major , Social Media , Red Flags , Mistakes , Guide

There is plenty of advice on the Internet about what you should do for your college apps.

But what about common pitfalls you should avoid?

Here are 11 unconventional college application red flags that will weaken your application and hurt your admissions chances:

1. Offensive social media posts

Colleges have increasingly rejected and rescinded admissions offers after discovering offensive social media posts.

Parkland shooting survivor Kyle Kashuv had his Harvard admissions offer rescinded in 2019. (Source)

According to a 2017 survey of admissions officers , 14% of colleges rescinded at least one student’s admission in the previous two years due to negative social media posts.

Another survey found that 11% of officers “ denied admission based on social media content.”

These numbers are likely even higher in 2020, as admissions offices become more social media savvy.

Here are some specific examples:

• In 2017 , Harvard rejected 10 students after admissions officers discovered offensive memes that they had shared on Facebook.
• In 2020 , Cornell, Marquette, the University of Florida, and dozens of other colleges all rescinded acceptances due to racist social media posts after George Floyd’s murder.

2. Wrong major

Students who demonstrate interest in different majors have widely different acceptance rates at certain colleges.

This can work to your benefit, as most colleges will allow you to switch majors after enrolling.

At Harvard , students interested in “humanities” are admitted at almost double the rate as students interested in “engineering”:

At UC Berkeley , applicants intending on studying “computer science” have an 8.5% acceptance rate, compared to 17% overall.

At Carnegie Mellon , the acceptance rate of different programs ranges from 7% to 26% !

And at UCLA , the School of Engineering explicitly sorts students by intended major, as well as admits students at a significantly lower rate than the College of Arts and Sciences.

If you mention that you are interested in pursuing Major X in college, you need to have demonstrated interest in Major X in high school:

“Noting your intended major on a college application is generally a good idea, because it shows admissions committees that you have a firm direction and plan for the future ,” says Stephen Black, Head Mentor at the admission consulting firm Admissionado. “Even if you’re not 100% sure that this will be your major—and virtually nobody is certain—it nevertheless shows that you are interested in exploring a particular field.”

What if, the week before applying, you discover that your true passion is different than what you’ve done throughout high school?

In short: Too bad.

You’re 4 years behind students who’ve pursued that passion since 9th grade.

Stick to your strengths.

Unless a school doesn’t allow you to change your field of study post-admission, sell the college on the strongest you possible.

It’s OK if you’re no longer passionate about that something when you apply — you’ll likely change your mind in college again anyway.

3. Wrong school

If you focus your application on a skill or interest that a school is known to be weaker in, then you better prove why you have a good reason to go to that school.

Convincing the MIT admissions office that their Ancient and Medieval Studies major is the ideal department for you is more of an uphill battle than claiming to want to study Computer Science.

4. Submitting an “obligatory” recommendation letter

If you can get a rec letter like this, you’re golden. (Source)

Every letter of recommendation should strongly advocate for your acceptance.

If a teacher or counselor’s letter doesn’t actively advocate for you, then it will appear as if that recommender did not truly want to write on your behalf, but felt obligated in order to avoid a socially awkward situation with you.

How do you fix this?

When you ask for someone’s recommendation for college, be direct in making sure they will write you a strong letter.

Instead of asking:

"Would you be willing to write me a rec letter?"

Be straightforward and ask:

"Do you think you’d be able to write me a strong rec letter for college?"

It’s a simple change, but can be powerful.

This phrasing gives the teacher a bit more of an out if they don’t feel they can write you a strong letter. As The College Essay Guy writes:

"The word ‘strong’ gives teachers a polite out if they feel like they don’t know you well enough or don’t have time to take on your letter."

Additionally, writing a weak letter will feel like more of a personal betrayal after giving you this explicit confirmation, which can work to your benefit.

5. Submitting an “A-lister” recommendation letter

Me: “You got a rec letter from Tom Hanks? How cool!” You: “Yeah, pretty sweet.” A jaded admissions officer: “Yawn...Reject.” You: “Wait…what? Did you not see the signature — That’s Tom Hanks!!” Admissions officer: “Yep, that’s why you were rejected. This letter doesn’t mention a single specific anecdote about you. He clearly doesn’t know you. You only got this because your mom is a Hollywood agent, which speaks to your privilege. And as great of an actor as Mr. Hanks is, his words don’t carry much weight as to how amazing of a chemist you’re destined to be.”

6. Essays >15 words under the word limit.

Yes, the “word limit” is technically the maximum number of words you can write. But smart applicants know that it is also the expected number of words. Most college essays are barely 300 words.

If you can’t fill 300 words talking about the thing you want to spend 4 years of college studying, then you clearly aren’t passionate enough to be admitted.

Fifteen words is more than enough room to fit another sentence in.

7. Ignorance of privilege

If you were afforded opportunities that most students wouldn’t experience, acknowledge that. Or, at the very least, show that you understand that you were fortunate to have such experiences.

8. Insincere volunteering

If you write your essay about helping those less fortunate than you, you must be sincere and authentic in your writing.

Otherwise you risk sounding condescending, out-of-touch, and/or disrespectful.

Additionally, don’t co-opt or claim for yourself the experiences of people you help as a way to elicit sympathy; this reflects poorly on you as a person.

This is the easiest way to go from the Accept to Reject pile.

Print, read over, and have multiple friends/relatives read over every application before you submit.

There are 40,000+ students applying to many top colleges, usually for <2,000 spots. You can be sure that 39,000 cared enough to make sure there were no typos.

10. Different “voices” across essays.

Make sure all of your essays convey the same authentic voice. If you receive help on one essay, make sure it fits in with and sounds the same as the rest of your essays.

Make sure your Activities Section presents your achievements in the same way they’re presented elsewhere in your app and rec letters.

11. Unprofessional interview

A poor interview can erase a great “on paper” applicant’s chances.

The college is admitting you as a person, not a transcript, so failing the interview can make even the most impressive achievements seem fake or exaggerated.

Some of the biggest turn-offs identified by admissions officers are: not showing professionalism, dressing too casually, saying something offensive or crass, offering one word answers, and not having questions ready to ask about the interviewer’s school. ( Source 1 , Source 2 )

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The college application process is complex, and it’s common to see students stressing about application mistakes.  Fortunately, admission officers understand that small errors happen and likely won’t bin your application essays for one or two such mistakes.  However, there are still several more serious college application red flags that can limit your admission chances! Look out for these red flags and address them before they hold you back.  Here are five of the most common college application red flags and how to proactively address them. 

1.  Incomplete material or information

It’s common to see students who skip certain sections of their application process in order to come back later and complete them.  However, there are situations where students click on submit without remembering to fill out those omitted sections.  Apart from showing that you ignore details, an incomplete application also means that admission officers won’t have enough information about you. 

How to address:

Create a different list and write down every section you’ll skip on the list.  Before clicking “submit,” come back to your list and check each number in the list one by one to ensure you’ve filled them correctly.  This way, you will get all of the parts of the application that you’ve skipped before. This applies to collecting forms, scanning documents, and attaching any necessary files.

2.  Not following directions

The complexity of the process can make it overwhelming for anybody.  So, many students unconsciously neglect certain directions and basic requirements in a bid to submit quickly.  For example, some students may not abide by the word count requirements for their main essays.  Some may not send the required documents in the correct format. These details may seem minor to you, but there’s a reason for the rules, and admission readers pay attention to how you follow them.

Before starting your application, make a note of what’s required and expected.  Ensure you’re explicitly following the note throughout your application process and avoid skipping any points you’ve written.

3.  Disciplinary infractions

Most colleges will only care about your tardies if they are a concerning amount (significantly more than average).  However, disciplinary actions like suspensions, expulsions, and academic probations will put the admissions committee on high alert.  These actions generally show that you need more time to be ready for the responsibility of taking care of yourself in a rigorous academic environment. After all, the consequences of unethical actions in college and beyond become increasingly serious. 

If you have any discipline incident on your record, don’t try to cover it up. Use the “additional information” section on your application to explain why you served any disciplinary punishment.  Own up to your mistakes and signify what you’ve done to show that you’ve grown pastthat level. 

4.  Extended leaves of absence

It’s common for students to experience issues that may force them to take a leave of absence from school.  A few absences won’t significantly affect your college chances.  But it becomes a cause of concern when the absences become regular, and/or with no explanation. In these cases, the college admissions committee may consider it a red flag, irrespective of your grades. 

This is one of the areas where a strong relationship with your college counselors may help.  College admission counselors have the right experience you’ll need to address your unique case.  While it’s a good idea to write about it in the additional information section, your college counselor can provide additional context in your recommendation.

5.  Inappropriate social media posts

It’s not strange to see colleges denying admissions and rescinding acceptance offers from candidates because of past and current social media posts.  Even top universities do this all the time, especially when they find posts relating to racism, sexual abuse, or promoting discrimination.

It’s simple: don’t post anything racist, sexist, bigoted, or threatening on social media.  Instead, use your social media platforms to create a digital portfolio highlighting your skills. If you made posts you regret in the past, try to clean up your current internet footprint so you can move forward.

No matter how we avoid them, we often still make common college application mistakes.  But not all of these mistakes will be overlooked by the college admissions committee.  Some mistakes are seen as red flags that mean you’ll struggle in a college environment where you must be mature and independent.  

In this article, we’ve discussed some of these college application red flags and how to go about them.  However, you can always contact us to discuss other red flags and how to address them.

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College Application Red Flags

You can browse the internet all day to find ways to strengthen your college application profile, but what about things NOT to do? 

Here are 7 college application red flags that will weaken your application and hurt your admissions chances:

• Not following directions.

Students might be trying to think outside the box to make a better impression and get a little fancy with their applications, but they need to make sure they still follow the instructions. Are you accurately answering the essay prompts? Are you submitting the right letter of recommendation? The correct number of recommendations? Reread the directions before hitting submit. You can find everything that is needed for your application on the university’s undergraduate admissions page.

• Incomplete materials or information.

As you fill out the Common App, Coalition App, or the app on the university’s website, you might skip a section, intending to finish it later, but then forget to come back to it. Before submitting, always triple check to ensure you have everything correct. An incomplete application not only shows a lack of effort but it also provides insufficient information for the admissions committee to make a decision.

• Not explaining grade dips or curriculum changes.

It is really important to provide additional context or justification for a drop in grades, a change in courses, or any discipline-related issues. This is where you should give more information to describe what occurred, why it happened, and how you’ve evolved as a result of the situation. Without any context to these changes or issues, the admissions reader won’t have any explanation and may assume you’re not ready to handle college.

• Not proofreading.

Making a couple of grammatical mistakes or typos is often given a pass. However, if your essay and application are riddled with errors, it is a huge red flag and can cause the reader to think that your writing skills are not up to par with where they need to be to be successful at their institution. Reread your essay to check for mistakes, especially ones that spell check won’t catch. Most students write their essays just a couple of days before they need to be submitted, and this just doesn’t serve them well. The students I work with get multiple edits, and they go through multiple people so nothing is missed.

• Writing the wrong university in the “Why this school?” essay, or mentioning a major that doesn’t exist at that particular school.

The absolutely biggest error you can make is using the wrong college name. Don’t say that you are very excited to go to Duke when you are actually writing an essay for UVA. This is a big no-no. Also, if you are applying to a major that may be called something different at different universities, be sure you mention the correct one in the correct essay. It is essential that you tailor each essay to fit the prompt, and proofread carefully if you are reusing material.

• When the essay is clearly written by someone else.

I have read many essays where you can tell the student didn’t write it. I always know when the kid hasn’t written it themselves- the word choices don’t match up with the rest of the application, the style isn’t right, and the flow is off. To be honest, when a parent writes the essay for their child, they are ultimately hurting their kid’s chances! The essay they write is never as good, because it doesn’t seem to be in the student’s voice. It is also a huge red flag that the student has no integrity. 

• Extracurriculars don’t match essays or chosen intended major.

The major you choose to apply to needs to match your extracurriculars and what you write about in your essays. If you are choosing to apply as a Computer Science applicant to Washington University in St. Louis, make sure that your extracurriculars and high school coursework reflect that interest. Also, be sure to do your research on the CS department so you can refer to opportunities offered by that university in your essays. On the flip side, let’s say your application indicates that you are a true CS student but you apply as a humanities major, admissions readers can read right through that. That is a huge red flag to admissions. 

Get help from a Solomon expert today!

Crafting a college application can take a lot of work, and honestly can be a little overwhelming. It is important to put your best foot forward when it comes to submitting your applications. An experienced consultant at Solomon can help make sure there are no red flags, while crafting a great application to help you shine through the paper. Contact us today to schedule your appointment!

Haley Artime

Former Admissions Counselor at Washington University in St. Louis Former Admissions Reader at Washington University in St. Louis Former Transfer Admissions Counselor at Lindenwood University

4 years in Washington University Admissions 1 year in Lindenwood University Admissions 2,000+ Applications Read & Evaluated

Haley, a B.S. graduate in Communication from Millikin University, transitioned from finance to higher education. At Washington University, she evaluated applications for all undergraduate schools and various scholarship programs. As a first-generation college student, Haley deeply understands the challenges of the college application process and is committed to making it more accessible and less daunting for others.

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8 Most Common College Application Mistakes to Avoid

Jackson Schroeder

You’ve made it this far. Your high school years are coming to an end, and college is right around the corner. 

Before you submit your college application(s), though, there are a few “red flags” you should be aware of. Red flags are the issues and mistakes, both big and small, that may cause college admissions officers to put an asterisk next to your application or, in some cases, mark it with the big, red “declined” stamp. 

Of course, the first step to fixing red flags is understanding what they are. So, we at The University Network (TUN) did some digging and reached out to a couple of college admissions experts. 

Here are eight most common mistakes that you should avoid in your college application. 

Throughout high school, you’re going to have some fluctuation in your grades — nearly every student does. While dropping from an A to a B grade average one quarter likely won’t kill your chances of being admitted to most institutions, significant dips in your grades can be a big problem. 

“A weak or inconsistent academic record is really a big flag,” says Judith Burke-Berhannan, dean of admissions at Stony Brook University. 

“When we see those types of things, and if we don’t have supporting documentation regarding possibly any extenuating or personal circumstances that might impact a student’s performance, then our concern is: ‘Is the student well motivated? Is the student focused? How much are they committed to their own academic success?’ ” she explains. 

Hindsight is 20/20. If you’re a high school senior, any grade dips you may have had are already cemented in your transcript. Although there’s no changing the past, most college applications, including the Common App , have additional information sections that give you several hundred words worth of space to add any context you want to your application. 

Use this space to explain the cause of your academic slippage. 

Maybe a relative passed away during your junior year of high school and the grieving process took a toll on you. Maybe you were sick and had to miss an extended amount of school. Or, maybe your family was going through a tough time financially, and you had to pick up an after-school job that limited the amount of time you could spend on homework or studying. 

“For students, being as transparent as they can be when they’ve encountered something that’s been a gridlock or hurdle for them along the way, it allows the admissions office to put a face to why those grades went a direction they went versus us just having to make an assumption that they didn’t study as hard,” says Marcus Cooper, senior program director with College Advising Corps at Texas A&M University. 

Never lie on your application, though. If there’s no justified cause for your poor grades one term, admit that you made a mistake. If your grades have since risen since they dipped, you’ve clearly learned something and grown. So, take time to explain what you’ve learned and how you’ve grown on your application. Admissions officers may consider this to be a sign of determination and ambition. 

“College admissions officers are always looking for reasons to admit a student rather than reasons not to offer admittance,” says Burke-Berhannan. 

Incomplete applications

Applications are carefully designed so that admissions officers can gain a well-rounded understanding of each applicant. If you brush over a section, leaving it blank or with minimal information, there’s a good chance you’ll be brushed over too. 

Particularly if you feel you’re on the border of being accepted, you should view the application as a way to sell yourself to the institution, Cooper explains. You want to show the institution that you’re serious and passionate about attending and that you’re doing everything you can to advocate for yourself. 

When filling out the activities and/or resume section of your application, don’t sell yourself short. If you play high school football, for example, and have to routinely travel hours away for road games, don’t only give yourself credit for the two or so hours that it takes to play the game on Friday night, Cooper explains. 

And when you’re describing your extracurricular activities, don’t hesitate to add a bit of detail. If you volunteer at an animal shelter, for example, don’t leave it at that. Instead, look for areas in the application to describe your impact. Try to fit in information about what you do as a volunteer, how long you’ve volunteered, and what motivates you to volunteer, for example. 

Of course, in some cases, brushing over a section may not be intentional. You could just completely miss a section, forgetting to fill it out. That’s one of the reasons why it’s extremely important to go back and triple-check that you’ve filled out the application in its entirety. 

Not following directions

Every year, there are applicants who opt to fill out applications their own way, rather than following the format of the application, Cooper explains. 

While being unique and thinking outside the box can be a good way to stand out from a crowded pool of applicants, make sure you do so within the confines of the application directions. 

When writing the essay portion, for example, try to stay around the suggested word limit. And don’t send a resume of your extracurricular activities to an institution when there is enough space to explain your extracurricular activities in the format of the application, explains Cooper. 

If you must send extra, outside documents, such as additional resumes or letters of recommendation, to the college or university you are applying to, make sure you use your full name and that every document follows a similar format so that it can be sequenced to you, Cooper adds. You don’t want to lose information that is important to your candidacy. 

Exaggerations about extracurriculars

Most often, students are too modest in terms of explaining the impact extracurricular activities have had on their lives. But, from time-to-time, applicants will exaggerate about their extracurriculars. Don’t be one of these applicants. 

It’s always best to be honest.

College admissions officers have networks, with friends and family members in all types of professions and communities. Particularly if you’re applying to an institution in your state, you don’t want to run the risk of exaggerating the amount of hours you worked at that local nonprofit or years you played on the soccer team, for example. While tall tales may not completely disqualify you from consideration for admission, they will leave a bad taste in the mouth of the admissions officers who are reviewing your application. 

Overlooking the personal statement or essay

While personal statements or essays may not carry nearly as much weight as your GPA or curriculum choices,you should never overlook the college essay, as that may flag a lack of effort and interest. 

Colleges ask you to write a personal statement because they want to get a better sense of who you are, not only as a student, but also as a person. They want to know about your passions and interests, the way you think, and how you respond to challenges. 

Particularly for competitive institutions, personal statements or essays provide an opportunity to set yourself apart from the crowd of equally qualified candidates. So when you look back at your application, make sure you’re comfortable with your essay and proud of the time and effort you put into it. If you aren’t, it may be best to set your application aside for the day and come back to it tomorrow with the intention of editing or, in some cases, redrafting your essay. 

For tips on how to write a compelling personal statement or essay, click here . 

Inconsistencies

You want your college application to be uniform and fully represent you as a person, from your academic strengths and weaknesses to the sports or clubs you’re involved with. 

Most of the time, making sure your application is consistent is as simple as diligently looking back over the application. If your essay is about your experience climbing the ranks of the quiz bowl team, for example, make sure you included that you were a member of the quiz bowl team in the activities section of your application.

There are, however, additional inconsistencies that are a bit harder to address. Say, for example, that you had all As in your math classes throughout high school but only scored a 450 on the math section of your SAT. 

Most of the time, situations like this don’t need any explaining, as there are all types of reasons an inconsistency like that could occur. But if you feel compelled to explain yourself, the additional information section of your application would be a good place to do so. 

Unusual curriculum changes

Although policies vary, admissions departments typically want to see that applicants progressed in terms of the difficulty of their coursework throughout high school. Generally, that means if an applicant took advanced classes, such as honors or APs, early on in high school, admissions officers want to see that the applicant continued taking advanced classes until graduation.

This rule, however, should be taken with a grain of salt. Admissions departments like applicants that have challenged themselves, but they also understand that students’ schedules don’t always fall exactly how they want them to. 

“Often, students have to make scheduling choices based around the constraints around what their high school is offering and what time it is being offered, making choices between taking one class versus another,” says Burke-Berhannan. “Often, there are reasons that a student might not opt to continue with an AP course or a specific track.”

So, for example, if you took three AP classes your sophomore year and, due to schedule limitations or another conflict, you only took one AP your junior year, you should find a space in the application to explain the reasons why. In the Common App, the appropriate place to explain would be in the “additional information” section. 

And if you stopped taking advanced classes at some point in high school because your GPA was suffering, don’t second-guess yourself for that decision. While admissions officers like to see advanced courses on an applicant’s transcript, they don’t want to see those classes coupled with poor grades. 

“We don’t want to see a student persisting with AP courses if they’re getting Cs and C-s,” says  Burke-Berhannan. “If they’re consistently performing at an average or below average level, then potentially the choice of APs or the number of AP courses they’re taking needs to be considered and adjusted.”

Typos and grammatical errors

A couple of typos and grammatical errors in your college application typically aren’t that big of a deal. Admissions officers understand that fingers slip on the keyboard and that autocorrect can, at times, work against you. 

But if typos and grammatical errors are persistent throughout the application, particularly in the essay section, it is not a good look. It shows admissions officers that you don’t care about the application enough to look back over it or ask a parent or friend to review it. 

Red flags come in many shapes and sizes. They can be as insignificant as a typo or as eye-popping as an F grade on your transcript. 

Having a red flag on your application is not a huge problem, as nearly everyone has a few. Leaving those red flags unaddressed, however, is how you can run into trouble. 

You can help your chances of admission by checking back over your application to correct the little mistakes. And for the big red flags, make sure you take the time to provide honest and clear explanations on the application. 

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Valuable College Prep Resources for Every High School Student

If you’re planning to go to college, it’s essential to make all four years of high school count. Colleges look at your entire high school record — courses, grades, activities, and more — when evaluating college applications. They want to see how you have progressed over your time in high school and if you’re truly ready for the rigors of a college education. So, whether it’s your first year in high school, your senior year, or somewhere in between, these resources can help you on your path to higher education. 

Valuable College Prep Resources: Table of Contents

College Prep Resources for Ninth Grade

College prep resources for your sophomore year, college prep resources to get the most out of your junior year, college prep resources for seniors.

All the focus might be on seniors right now, but this is actually the perfect time for ninth graders to start thinking about their college goals — even if they seem really far off. While no one expects ninth graders to have their “dream college” and major picked out, it is helpful to start thinking about college now in broader terms. What do you think about a college education? Is that an important goal for you? Is your academic performance a priority? What do you need to do now to make sure your grades are solid and improving? These are the types of “college prep” questions that ninth graders can think about now without causing too much anxiety.

Starting College Prep Early

Why should you start college prep in ninth grade? There are a number of reasons why — mainly that colleges will look at your ninth-grade records. But also because preparing for and applying to college is a journey to learning more about yourself and your interests, and using that information to ultimately form your college goals. Here are some resources to get you started and highlight why it’s important to start exploring college options now.

• How to Prepare Your Child for College in 9th Grade
• 3 Things Admissions Officers Look For in Students
• When Do I Need to Start Planning for College?

Exploring Interests

One of the first things you’ll do — no matter what grade you’re in — when preparing for college is to really try to figure out what you like. Do you love science? Are you more of an art student? What interests you? How do you know what interests you? Figuring out what you enjoy and how that factors into your college plans in the future is something you can easily start as soon as you get into high school.

• Good Extracurriculars for College: Why They Matter and How to Choose Yours
• Finding Community Service Opportunities that Match Your Interests
• Exploring Your Interests Through Reading and Research This Summer

Outside Reading

As shown above, outside reading is a great way to explore your interests and get involved with activities you like. It’s also a great way to learn, expand your vocabulary, and improve your writing. Outside reading is the easiest form of college prep students can start with and build upon as they move through high school.

• IvyWise Summer Reading List

As mentioned before, colleges care about your academic performance during all four years of high school. It’s great for high school students to establish a strong academic foundation with good grades during their first year, but students can often have a hard time adjusting to a high school curriculum at first — and that’s okay! They can start their college prep simply by watching their grades, asking for help, and making sure they take a challenging course load sophomore year.

• How Important Are Transcripts and Course Rigor?
• Importance of Course Rigor When Applying to College
• 5 Tips for Choosing High School Classes

Getting started on college prep during the first year of high school doesn’t have to be a huge undertaking. As long as students are exploring their interests, working hard in class, and thinking about what goals they may have for the future, they’ll be on the right track to a successful college prep journey as they move into sophomore, junior, and senior year.

Junior year is right around the corner, so now is the perfect time for high school sophomores to start thinking about their college plans and what they need to do now in order to prepare for the admissions process.

Sophomores only have one more semester before their college prep really picks up during junior year, so now is the time to take those first steps toward developing a solid college prep plan. There are a number of simple things sophomores can do now that won’t cause too much stress too early. By taking these small steps, sophomores can get ahead of the college prep anxiety that can build up going into junior year.

Choosing Courses

Are you taking the right classes? The most important thing colleges look at when evaluating applicants is the transcript. They want to see students taking challenging courses in their areas of interest and performing well in them. Now is the time to look at the classes you’re taking and make adjustments if possible — especially as you start choosing classes for junior year.

If you’re interested in STEM, plan to take whatever science and math classes are available to you, including honors, AP, and IB courses.

This is a critical time to make sure you’re on the right track academically before college prep really starts to ramp up your junior year.

• College Prep 101: Selecting High School Courses
• High School Classes: What to Choose to Prepare for College
• College Admissions Rubric: Developing a Competitive Transcript

Exploring Your Interests

Hopefully, you started exploring some areas of interest during ninth grade, but if not, now is the time to get serious about focusing and developing your interests. Try out some classes, clubs, or activities that are related to an area of study you want to learn more about. Read books and other publications that cover that area of interest.

• Developing Your Interests: Kickstarting Your Own Blog

Quality is valued over quantity when it comes to extracurricular activities, so as you’re exploring your interests, evaluate other activities you’re doing. What activities are you currently involved in that you enjoy? Which activities do you not enjoy? Start cutting out the clubs and activities that you’re not particularly passionate about, especially if it’s something you only picked up because you thought it would “look good” on your college application. The truth is, colleges want to see students involved in extracurriculars they like and are making an impact in — not activities that you chose to look impressive. They can see through it.

• What Colleges Look for in a Student’s Activities List
• What Extracurricular Activities Do I Need to Do?
• How Community Service Can Impact College Admission Chances

Summer Experiences

In addition to how you spend your time outside of the classroom during the school year, colleges will also look at how you spent your summer. Now is the time to start thinking about your summer plans. Will you have a job? Will you find an internship? Maybe you want to try a university-sponsored summer program. Start exploring your options now. Research summer programs that match your interests. Reach out to people in your community that have jobs related to your interests. Do they have any internship opportunities available? Planning a productive summer will not only help you stand out when applying to college but it will also help you better focus your interests so you can set clear goals for the next school year.

• How to Plan a Productive Summer Break
• 10 Best Summer Internships for High School Students
• What Should I Do Over Spring and Summer Breaks?

There are a number of things that high school sophomores can be doing now to prepare for the college admissions process. Simple steps like evaluating your courses, activities, and summer plans can set you on the right path toward your college plans well ahead of time.

The college application process is right around the corner for high school juniors, and we have a number of resources to help college-bound juniors get and stay on track before they apply to college. It’s important for high school juniors to take their college preparation seriously, while also working to maintain good grades and participate in extracurricular activities.

Building Your College List

One of the most important things that you will do when preparing for college is building a balanced college list of “likely,” “target,” and “reach” colleges to which you will apply. This requires a lot of research, thought about your goals and needs, and consulting with your college counselor.

• How to Research a College Effectively
• How to Build a Balanced College List
• Your Balanced College List: How Many Colleges You Should Apply To?
• Evaluating School Fit to Build Your Balanced College List
• Is the ‘Reach, Target, Likely’ List Becoming More of a Spectrum?

Visiting Colleges

As part of researching colleges in order to build a balanced college list, high school juniors should also be visiting the colleges they’re interested in. Not only will this allow students to learn more about the college and whether or not it’s a good fit, but it can also help with demonstrated interest.

• How to Prepare for Your College Visits
• College Visit Packing List: What to Bring and What to Leave at Home
• How Can I Make the Most of Campus Visits?

IvyWise counselors Meg, Alisha, and Rachel give some tips for high school juniors on how to make the most of their college visits.

Selecting Teachers for Recommendation Letters

Now’s the time to start thinking about which teachers you want to approach in order to request recommendation letters. It’s important to ask teachers early, as they will likely have a lot of requests for recommendations. Waiting until the last minute will put unnecessary stress on you and your recommender.

• The Truth About Recommendation Letters
• Selecting Teachers to Write Letters of Recommendation
• Students: Tips for Cultivating Teacher Relationships
• Whom Should I Ask for Letters of Recommendation?

Staying Informed

The college admissions process is always changing, whether it’s application changes, new applications, testing, or just what exactly colleges are looking for. It’s important to keep up with the latest college admissions news and developments.

• College Admissions Trends and Insights From the Experts
• What Is an Admissions Committee?
• How College Applications are Evaluated
• What Is the U.S. Holistic College Admissions Rubric?
• The New Digital SAT: What to Expect
• How to Make an Art Portfolio for College or University

Starting College Apps Over the Summer

The Common Application essay prompts are released early every year, and many colleges tend to release their own supplemental essay prompts over the summer. This gives rising high school seniors the opportunity to get a head start on their college application essays over the summer break.

• Tips for Practicing Essay Writing Over Summer Break
• College Application Essay Writing 101: Selecting a Topic
• College Application Essay Writing 101: The Writing Process

For seniors, the college admissions season is officially underway. There’s a lot that high school seniors need to do between the start of the school year and application deadlines — especially if they’re applying in the early admission rounds . The college application process can be confusing, but there are a number of online resources that can help students and parents navigate the process.

There’s a lot of information out there about the U.S. admissions process, including what to expect when applying and how to navigate the Common App or the Coalition Application . What students and parents have to be mindful of, however, is how reliable those resources are. It’s important when learning about the college admissions process to investigate your sources in order to ensure you’re getting the most recent and accurate information available. Luckily, we’re sharing a few of our favorite online college admissions resources for seniors.

IvyWise counselors Eric and Mike share how to fill out the Common App.

The College Board

The College Board is responsible for developing and administering the PSAT, SAT, and AP courses and exams, so it’s very likely that you’ll encounter one or more of the College Board ’s resources throughout high school. In addition to study materials for all of the exams mentioned above, the College Board also offers free college search tools to help you research schools in order to build a balanced college list.

College Navigator

Another great college research tool is the College Navigator . This resource is managed by the Department of Education and includes data and statistics provided directly by colleges and universities in the U.S. Students can research information on admissions statistics, average financial aid, average test scores of admitted students, and more all in one place.

Khan Academy

Grades and test scores are the important factors that colleges consider when evaluating college applications, so it’s important for students to take advantage of academic and test prep resources — especially free ones. Khan Academy offers free SAT test prep resources, as well as lessons for subjects like math, science, U.S. history, computer programming, and more.

U.S. News & World Report

Known for its college rankings, U.S. News & World Report also has a wealth of articles about the admissions process that can be informative for students applying to college this fall. While we never advise students to make college decisions based on rankings lists, the data compiled to calculate the rankings can be useful. U.S. News also frequently interviews admissions experts, including those at IvyWise, to bring the latest advice and news to readers.

Need more help with your college planning? Explore our free resources and learn the benefits of working with a college counselor throughout the admission process.

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Managing Missteps

How to address red flag issues and mistakes on your college applications.

If you have a record of getting excellent grades in your courses but then receive a bad grade, you may need to explain what happened.

Everybody makes mistakes. If you’re a good student who has not always been perfect, you might be anxious about whether or not it will prevent you from getting into the school of your dreams. Issues ranging from minor ones such as a single bad grade to major ones such as a suspension, minor in possession or long absences from school may cause concern. The most important thing to remember if you have a problematic record is that you must disclose it and be truthful about it. If you don’t, it may later return and end your chances of gaining admission.

Being Upfront

Admissions officers and committees want to see that applicants who have red flag issues in their pasts recognize their mistakes and have worked to correct them. At Going Ivy, our professional educational counselors have graduated from such universities as Harvard and other elite institutions. Some of our counselors and tutors are also former admissions officers and offer a unique perspective about how red flags are viewed. In the past, we have assisted students who have red flags and who have made mistakes with addressing those problems head on in their college applications. Some of them have gone on to gain admission into their top school choices. Our goal is to help you to clearly demonstrate that you are not defined by what occurred.

Common Red Flags and Mistakes

There are some common issues that we have seen. In all likelihood, you are probably not as bad off as you might think that you are. Here are some of the issues that we occasionally see and how you might handle them if they pertain to you.

Exaggerating on Your Application

Some students create their own red flags by not being honest on their applications. They may claim to engage in more activities than they do, to hold positions that they don’t or have their parents write their essays, for example. Admissions counselors read thousands of essays each year, and they can easily spot problems in applications in which students have lied. Seth Green , the Dean of Admissions at Grinnell College, states that he has seen students who make outlandish claims about the hours that they spend performing extracurriculars. According to him, he has seen students attempting to claim enough extracurricular activities that it would require them to have more hours than there are in a week.

Mistakes that are more than just exaggerating include submitting an essay that is clearly not written by you. If your essay is extremely strong but your English grades and corresponding standardized test scores are low, you won’t make sense to a school, and your authenticity could be questioned. Don’t put yourself in this position. The key for this red flag is just to be honest on your applications about who you are and what you have done, and write all parts of your application yourself. Getting editing help is okay, but hiring someone to completely write your essay for you is never a good idea.

Dropping Grades

Admissions committees do not like seeing applicants whose grades have fallen. For example, if you have a record of getting excellent grades in your courses but then receive a bad grade, you may need to explain what happened. You’ll also want to explain this to your high school counselor who will write a letter of recommendation for you. Don’t think that you can slack off after you receive an acceptance letter from your school, either. According to Richard Nesbitt , the director of admissions at Williams College, schools can and sometimes do revoke acceptances when they receive midterm grades for senior-year students who have been accepted but who have slacked off after receiving their letters. It is important for you to continue working hard all the way through school until you graduate.

Disciplinary or Legal Problems

One trip to the principal’s office will not be fatal to your application, but serious problems such as expulsions or suspensions might be if they are not handled well. Similarly, if you have a juvenile record for such things as possessing drugs or alcohol, or your school has noted that you were disciplined for academic dishonesty, you will need to handle the matter well in order to gain acceptance even if you have a perfect standardized test score.

Curricular Changes

If your academic record includes major curricular changes such as switching to regular classes instead of advanced placement courses, you will need to explain why. Don’t think that you can sign up for all easy classes during your senior year. Admissions committees may view this with suspicion.

Lengthy Absences from School

If you had to take off a semester or longer from school, you will need to explain why. Similarly, if you have excessive absences from school that caused you to have falling grades, your absences may catch the admission committee’s attention.

How to Disclose and Deal with Problems

If you have any of these red flags in your past, preparing an explanation is vital. On the Common Application, you can do so in the additional information section. Disclose the mistakes that you have made and admit what your role was in them. Do not make excuses for what happened or blame others. Talk about what you have done since the event to correct the issue. Talk about what you should have done differently, and discuss what you have learned from it. This is a good place to also explain any extenuating circumstances. For instance, if you took a semester away from high school because you were recovering from injuries that you received in a car accident, disclose that. Don’t make up extenuating circumstances if there weren’t any, however. This type of information is easily verifiable.

The letters of recommendation that teachers and your high school counselor write can be a great source of explanation of drops in grades or academic red flags. If you had a low Spanish grade, for example, but that teacher was later let go, your counselor can and should address that.

If you have a juvenile record, it is important that you are able to demonstrate that you have learned from what happened and have turned over a new leaf. For instance, if you were charged with illegally possessing prescription narcotics, you may want to talk about your attendance at drug rehabilitation and how you now work as a volunteer counseling other teens who have similar problems. No matter what you say, however, you must be honest. Don’t try to make something up, believing that you won’t be caught. You might. Finally, you should know that admissions officers have hearts. They are willing to look past many issues as long as they can see that you have learned from them, are truly contrite and have grown as a person.

Get Help from the Experts at Going Ivy

One mistake will not destroy your future. It is important that you are able to show that you have matured and have taken steps to correct any issues that might have happened. The educational experts at Going Ivy can assist you with determining how best to frame what happened and how to talk about it on your application. Call us today to schedule your appointment.

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what are your red flags for colleges?

that you see on the website or on a tour, etc