ALL students make mistakes in their college essays, even strong writers.

One of the most common mistakes is writing “garble,” which is a term I coined to refer to filler words that sound like you’re saying something but are so generic and without substance that they actually mean nothing.

 Essentially, it’s a string of meaningless words.

Here are some examples:

Example #1: “I want to be a doctor because I want to help patients and save lives. Making this career choice will require sacrifices not many are willing to make and dedication to helping others feel better. You must have a passion for this field to be able to do it and this is what sets us apart from others. I would be happy in this career knowing that I made a difference.”

Example #2: “Going through this experience made me a stronger person and the person I am today. I will use this strength to help make my community a better place. I am passionate about this because I want to help as many people as I can and to make a difference in this world with my actions.”

Example #3: “Being president of this organization gave me so many opportunities to lead others and be a better leader. I made important decisions every day that affected the operations of this organization. These collective experiences will help me in the future as I will apply them in the real world.”

Example #4: “The knowledge I gained from the class was valuable and something I will always remember for the rest of my life. I realized that it is important to work together to get things done. It also helped me learn more about myself and gain a new perspective in life.”

Example #5: “My father inspires me every day to be the best person I can be through hard work and persistence. Even though he is constantly busy with work, he always takes time out of his day to teach me his life lessons and I do my best to apply them. Now that I’m older, I feel like I understand his teachings and can use them to help others.”

Example #6: “This university will give me the skills needed to become a better activist and help my community back home. I will also have many opportunities to grow as a person and scholar. The important life lessons I will take with me will be used to help countless people and make the world a better place.”

As you probably noticed, it’s unclear what the point of these passages is and that’s the issue – we literally don’t know what you’re saying.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Is my point clear and concise?
• Is it specific and relevant to what I’m talking about?
• Is it personal?
• Is this the best way I can convey my message?
• Does it directly address the prompt?
• Does it serve a purpose?
• Does it also sound generic to other people?

When you write garble, it’s a disservice to both you and your readers because the purpose of college essays is to help admission officers learn more about you (hence why it’s called a “Personal Statement”) and why you’re a good fit. 

However, garble negatively affects the quality of your essays by adding white noise, which results in your message getting lost in its delivery. 

The resulting lack of clarity will make it harder for your readers to understand what your point is so it’s imperative that you write clearly, concisely, and directly.

What you can do: 

Start by asking yourself the questions above to ensure that you write specifically and with precision.

Additionally, do your best to write as clearly and concisely as you can. And make certain that you answer the prompt directly.

If your words/sentences sound generic or vague, take a step back and consider how you can make them more personal and concrete.

Do not make the mistake of writing whatever comes to mind just because you’re experiencing writer’s block. That will only lead to disorganized, generic, and awkward-sounding essays.

Be purposeful and strategic with your word choice and take frequent breaks to reset yourself mentally. 

You can also check out this article to learn how to write clearly.