I've reviewed hundreds of college application essays. The same 3 mistakes show up in probably 80% of them — and they're all completely fixable.

Mistake #1: Writing about what you think they want to hear.

Admissions officers read 20,000+ essays per cycle. They can smell a "volunteering changed my life" essay from a mile away. The essays that stand out are specific, honest, and reveal how you actually think — not what you think sounds impressive.

Mistake #2: Burying the lead.

Your first sentence matters more than you think. If your essay starts with "I've always been passionate about..." you've already lost them. Open with a moment, a detail, a scene. Pull them in.

Mistake #3: Not connecting the story to the "so what."

A great story isn't enough. The best essays make the reader understand something about who you are and how you'll show up on campus. Every anecdote needs a throughline to your identity.

I teach students how to avoid all three of these (and dozens of other common pitfalls) inside Stress Less College Apps. If you're applying this cycle, the time to start is now — not December.