During my four years reading applications in the Dartmouth admissions office, I reviewed thousands of college essays. Let me be blunt: most were bad. At least 75% were cringeworthy. Of the 25% that were decent, maybe 10% were truly great.
So why are so many essays — from smart, capable students — so deeply mediocre? Part of the issue is the prompt itself. Ask a vague question like “Write a personal essay,” and students assume they should write about personal drama — something raw, emotional, or confessional. But anyone who’s studied computer science knows GIGO: Garbage In, Garbage Out. Ask a shallow question and you’ll get a shallow answer.
College Essay Guidance
Experience personalized, expert guidance to elevate your college essays and secure your spot at top universities.
COLLEGE ESSAYS: TOP FIVE (AVOIDABLE) MISTAKES
Here are five of the most common — and most avoidable — college essay mistakes I’ve seen students make (and how to steer clear of them):
1. Confusing “Personal” with “TMI”
Oversharing is not the same as being reflective. Admissions officers don’t need the play-by-play of your first kiss, breakup, or emotional spiral unless it’s directly tied to your growth or academic trajectory. If it sounds like something you’d tell a therapist or scribble in your diary, it probably doesn’t belong in your application.
2. The “Poor Me” Essay
A tough moment doesn’t automatically make for a strong essay. Unless the adversity was truly life-altering and shaped your academic path or worldview, skip it. Everyone faces challenges — what matters is how you responded, what you learned, and how it changed you. That’s the story.
3. The Five-Paragraph Journey to Nowhere
This one usually starts like this: I stood up, walked down the hall, and turned the corner… Sound familiar? It’s filler. Instead, drop the reader in medias res — in the middle of the action. Don’t lead up to the point. Start with the moment that matters: I hit a B-flat that shook the auditorium. Now we’re listening.
4. The Savior Complex
You didn’t fix global poverty during your weeklong service trip. Admissions officers don’t want to read about how you “saved” a community — they want to know what you learned. Focus less on your so-called impact and more on how the experience changed your perspective.
5. The Walking Résumé
Your Activities List already covers what you’ve done. Don’t use the essay to rehash it. The strongest essays reveal the why behind your interests — what motivates you, what matters to you, and how your experiences connect in a way only you can explain.
At Top Tier Admissions, we help students cut through the noise and tell the stories that admissions officers actually want to read. The best essays are thoughtful, original, and unmistakably you — not something AI (or your mom) could have written.
Want to stay in the loop? Follow us on Instagram @toptieradmissions and subscribe to our blog for expert advice and admissions insights.
Know someone else navigating the college process? Pass it along — they’ll thank you later!
Dr. Michele Hernández has written the best-selling books: A is for Admission, The Middle School Years, Acing the College Application and Don’t Worry You’ll Get In which she wrote with Mimi Doe. Her new book on hiking all the Northeast mountains over 4000 feet is now available on Amazon.
- I Was a Dartmouth Admissions Officer–75% of the College Essays I Read Were Terrible - September 9, 2025
- It’s College Essay Season: Here’s the Hard Truth - July 16, 2025
- College Admissions Ask Me Anything - October 4, 2024
