What should I cut out of my college essay?

You should cut clichés, redundant words (especially adverbs/adjectives like "really," "very"), weak phrases ("I learned that," "in conclusion"), unnecessary setup, and anything that doesn't directly reveal your character or advance your story, focusing instead on showing specific details and unique insights. Ruthlessly trim words that don't serve the essay's core purpose to make space for authentic, vivid storytelling that reveals who you are, not just what you did.

What should I cut from my essay?

10 Tricks to Reduce Your Word Count in Academic Writing

• Delete "The" You can often omit the word “the” from your text without losing any meaning. ...
• Erase “That” ...
• Remove Adverbs and Adjectives. ...
• Use Shorter Words. ...
• Trim Wordy Phrases. ...
• Choose Active Voice. ...
• Revise Needless Transitions. ...
• Eliminate Conjunctions.

What are the 5 D's of college essays?

The "5 Ds" of college essays are common, overused topics to avoid, representing Death, Divorce, Disease (or Depression), Drugs, and Dating, as they're hard to write about compellingly and often become cliché, making it tough to stand out; instead, focus on showcasing your personality and growth through more unique experiences, experts advise. 

What not to put in your college essay?

You should avoid college essay topics like bragging about accomplishments, clichés (the big game, mission trips), focusing on others (parents, pets, heroes), illegal/unethical acts, excessive trauma/illness (death, abuse, serious mental health), politics/religion, or anything that makes you seem entitled or boring, as they often fail to reveal your unique character or growth. The key is to show your insight and growth, not just recount events or list achievements. 

What should I end my college essay with?

Your beginning words for the final paragraph should indicate that you're finishing, obviously. You can go for: ``summarizing, in summary, taken everything written above into account, final thoughts, all things considered, in essence''.

The Best Way to Start & End a College Essay! | Tips for Common App and Supplementals

How to stand out on a college essay?

12 Strategies to Writing the Perfect College Essay

1. Be Authentic.
2. Grab the Reader From the Start.
3. Focus on Deeper Themes.
4. Show Don't Tell.
5. Try Doing Something Different.
6. Write With the Reader in Mind.
7. Write Several Drafts.
8. Read It Aloud.

What is a great closing sentence?

A great closing sentence summarizes key points, leaves a lasting impression, and offers a final thought, often using transition words like "Ultimately," "In conclusion," or "Therefore," but a truly great one provides a "clincher" by echoing the main idea in a fresh, thought-provoking way, connecting back to the introduction, or offering a powerful takeaway that feels complete and impactful. 

What do colleges not want to see in an essay?

You should avoid college essay topics like bragging about accomplishments, clichés (the big game, mission trips), focusing on others (parents, pets, heroes), illegal/unethical acts, excessive trauma/illness (death, abuse, serious mental health), politics/religion, or anything that makes you seem entitled or boring, as they often fail to reveal your unique character or growth. The key is to show your insight and growth, not just recount events or list achievements. 

What are bad college essay topics?

Writing about cultural heritage, bad grades or personal flaws, music, sports, drama, politics, or a family member's serious illness in college essays is tempting, but dangerous. We show why these topics can hurt students with admissions teams and how to handle them well.

Can my college essay be sad?

Honestly, no admission officer wants to read a sad essay. If students are writing about a sad experience, two to three sentences can be about the thing and the rest needs to be about the student, what they learned from the experience, how they grew, etc.

Can I trauma dump in my college essay?

No, it's generally not okay to "trauma dump" (overshare intense details) in college essays, as it often focuses on the negative event rather than your growth, potentially making admissions officers pity you instead of admire your resilience, though writing about overcoming hardship can be powerful if it highlights skills, perspective, and personal development, not just shock value or pity. The key is to show growth and insight (what you learned and how you changed) from challenges, rather than just recounting the trauma itself, focusing on who you are now and your potential contribution to the college. 

Is it bad if my college essay is exactly 650 words?

No, it's not bad; hitting exactly 650 words for a Common App essay is perfectly fine and often seen as ideal, showing you've used the space effectively to tell your story without going over the strict limit, which admissions officers appreciate for conciseness and following directions. While some aim for slightly under to leave room for editing, getting right to the maximum demonstrates full engagement with the opportunity to share your unique self, so focus on quality content over hitting an exact number, but don't shy away from the limit if your story warrants it. 

What makes a college essay weak?

Generic or cliché topics: Some cliché essay topics include sports injuries or victories, immigrant stories, moving schools, and overcoming a challenging class. Writing about these topics can make your essay feel less unique and memorable.

Can I write a 1000 word essay in 1 hour?

Experienced writers can write a 1000-word essay in less than an hour, while beginners can take up to four hours. Working on your writing speed and efficiency helps you maximise your time and improve your focus.

What are 10 powerful words in English?

There's no single "top 10," as powerful words vary by context (marketing, emotion, academic), but often cited examples include Love, You, New, Free, Because, Guarantee, Imagine, Proven, Success, and Change, because they evoke strong feelings, build trust, promise value, or motivate action, making communication more impactful.
 

Do and don'ts for college essays?

For college essays, DO be authentic, show through details (don't just tell), focus on a narrow topic, answer the prompt directly, and proofread carefully; DON'T use clichés, repeat your transcript, discuss controversial topics, sound overly polished (lose your voice), or write what you think they want to hear.
 

What are overdone college essay topics?

Résumé of your life and achievements

A college application is essentially a student's résumé—it contains their grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities—which makes an essay listing achievements redundant.

What is a very debated topic?

Social and Political Issues Debate Topics

The death penalty should be abolished. Human cloning should be legalized. All drugs should be legalized. Animal testing should be banned. Juveniles should be tried and treated as adults.

How do I make my college essay stand out?

Here are my best tips:

1. MAKE IT UNIQUELY YOU. The personal essay is the only place in your entire application where the admissions officers have the ability to hear your own voice. ...
2. PICK A TOPIC WHICH MATTERS TO YOU. ...
3. START WRITING. ...
4. WRITE A LOT. ...
5. REWRITE, REWRITE, REWRITE. ...
6. SHOW IT TO OTHER PEOPLE. ...
7. ARE YOU PROUD OF IT?

What is the most common mistake in college essay?

Below are five common blunders students sometimes make when starting their college essays, and some tips for how to avoid them.

• Dismissing “Unremarkable” Stories. ...
• Not Talking About Yourself Enough. ...
• Approaching the College Essay Like an English Paper. ...
• Trying Too Hard to Impress. ...
• Not Getting Specific Enough.

What are good controversial topics to write about?

Argue for or against the following statements:

• Discrimination law has gone too far.
• Feminism is an embarrassment.
• Discrimination laws should not apply to religious institutions.
• A person can never really change sex.
• If you've built up a business, you should be entitled to hire who you like.

What are the 7 sentence starters?

You can start sentences in many ways, but often cited examples include using an adjective, adverb, prepositional phrase, infinitive phrase, participle phrase, adverb clause, or even a question or transition word, to add variety beyond just starting with the subject (e.g., She ran). These methods help create more engaging and sophisticated writing, moving beyond simple subject-verb structures.
 

What to avoid in a conclusion?

Strategies to avoid

Stating the thesis for the very first time in the conclusion. Introducing a new idea or subtopic in your conclusion. Ending with a rephrased thesis statement without any substantive changes. Making sentimental, emotional appeals that are out of character with the rest of an analytical paper.

What are 5 sentences examples?

Simple sentences in the Present Simple Tense

• I'm happy.
• She exercises every morning.
• His dog barks loudly.
• My school starts at 8:00.
• We always eat dinner together.
• They take the bus to work.
• He doesn't like vegetables.
• I don't want anything to drink.