College Essay Topics to Avoid 🙅‍♂️

Hey y'all,

The summer is slowly creeping up, meaning that many of you will be staring at blank documents trying to write the "perfect" essay. Let’s cover topics that might seem compelling but often fall flat with admissions officers.

Before we jump in, check out Next Admit if you need help with your college essays. You can receive detailed feedback and edits from Ivy League consultants in as little as 24 hours.

😢 The Unresolved Sob Story

We all face hardships, and some of us have overcome truly difficult circumstances. But here's the thing: a sad story without resolution doesn't tell colleges much about you.

Sharing your struggles can be powerful, but admissions officers aren't just looking for tragedy—they're looking for resilience, growth, and how you've responded to challenges.

How to Fix: Instead of dwelling on the hardship itself, focus on how you rose to the occasion. What specific actions did you take? How has your perspective shifted? The obstacle is just the setup—your response is the real story.

🏆 The One-Note Sports Narrative

Your game-winning shot or comeback from injury might be genuinely impressive. The challenge is that when an essay focuses primarily on plays and scores, it doesn't reveal who you are beyond athletics.

Many students naturally describe the championship game moment-by-moment without connecting these experiences to their broader identity.

How to Fix: Consider how your sports journey connects to other dimensions of your life. Did your analytical approach to improving your free-throw percentage spark an interest in data science? Did organizing practice sessions reveal your talent for project management? The sport itself isn't the story—it's the backdrop for showcasing the multifaceted person you've become.

The Biography 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

This is one I see constantly—essays that spend 650 words talking about how amazing someone else is. A relative’s immigration story. Your coach's inspirational leadership. Your favorite teacher's life-changing advice.

While these people matter, remember: colleges are admitting you, not them.

How to Fix: Shift the focus back to yourself. How did this person's impact translate into decisions you made? What actions did you take as a result of their influence? By all means, acknowledge their role, but make it clear that you're the one taking initiative and making things happen.

The Hodge-Podge 🎒

Some students try to cram every accomplishment into their essay. Club president, research assistant, volunteer work, varsity athlete, and that one time you met a famous person—all jammed into 650 words.

The result? A superficial overview that doesn't tell admissions officers anything meaningful about you.

How to Fix: Pick one or two experiences and go deep. Flesh them out with specific details and reflections. What did you learn? How did you change? A focused narrative about a single experience will tell admissions officers far more about you than a scattered list of achievements.

The Childhood Memoir 👶

Starting your essay with "Ever since I was five years old..." is often a red flag. While childhood experiences can be formative, spending too much time in the distant past suggests you might not have done much growing since then.

Colleges want to know who you are now—not just who you were as a kid.

How to Fix: Use childhood experiences as a brief starting point, then quickly transition to the present. How has that early interest evolved? What are you doing now that demonstrates your passion and commitment? Make your current self and future aspirations the heart of your essay.

Remember, your college essay isn't just about what you've done—it's about who you are. The best essays reveal your character, values, and the unique perspective you'll bring to campus.

If you want study help, come join my Discord! We have a global community of students helping each other succeed in school. I’d love to see you there.

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I’ll see you next week!

Best,
Gohar