What is the biggest mistake a student can make on a college application?

Answer 1

Greetings!

The issue with college application writing is the student not diving deep enough to SHOW who they really are. Paragraphs telling the reader, "I did this, I did that," has no weight. The student needs to look into who they are and discuss in detail their experiences following by reflecting on what they took from that experience and/or learned. I can definitely help you in creating and brainstorming the ideal essay that will help get you admitted into your college of choice!

Answer 2

Among the most important college admissions questions is what mistakes to avoid. One of the biggest is submitting an application that feels generic—one that could have been written by anyone. Admissions officers want to see your unique story, personality, and fit for the school, not just a list of activities or a standard essay.

Students should also work to minimize errors throughout the application, especially in essays and the extracurricular section. While admissions officers don’t expect perfection (they rarely see it), several typos, grammar mistakes, or formatting issues can distract from your message and draw negative attention. Having a parent, teacher, or mentor proofread your application can make a big difference.

I work closely with students to avoid these pitfalls—helping them create applications that are authentic, polished, and memorable, so they stand out for the right reasons.