Category: College Essays

Avoid Frequent “Redirections” In Your College Essays

I have edited dozens of college essays and see students fall for the same mistakes, such as making frequent redirections. Redirection is a word I coined to refer to a shift in your readers’ attention (often through the introduction of…
Do Not Narrate Your Resume In Your College Essays (Part 1)

Another mistake to avoid in your college essays is narrating your resume (listing all of your experiences with little regard to the prompt). This is problematic because when you introduce many tangential points, they dilute and detract from your main…
Avoid Using “Garble” In Your College Essays

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…
Common Essay Mistakes You Need To Avoid (Part 3)

This is the third and final part of common mistakes I have seen students make in their college essays. In this article, I will explain each mistake and give tips you can use to avoid them. I will also include…
Common Essay Mistakes You Need To Avoid (Part 2)

I have edited countless college essays and see students make these mistakes ALL the time, even among strong writers. In this article, I will explain each mistake and give tips you can use to avoid them. I will also include…
Common Essay Mistakes You Need To Avoid (Part 1)

I have edited dozens of college essays but what never fails to surprise me is the diversity of writing skills among applicants. Some students are strong writers while others might need a little more guidance.  Either way, all students make…