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

Answer 1

I agree with what my colleagues have shared so far. It’s easy to worry about things like missing a deadline or making a typo, and those details do matter. But the bigger mistake is turning in an application that doesn’t sound like you. When your answers feel generic or could apply to any college (particularly with the "Why Us?" question), admissions officers don’t get a true sense of who you are.

Personalization is key. Whether it’s your main essay, your activities list, or a short answer about why a particular school is the right fit, admissions officers want to see a real connection between you and the college, and they want to hear your authentic voice.

And most importantly, don’t be tempted to rely on AI to write your essay. Admissions officers are pretty good at figuring out when an essay was written by ChatGPT or other AI, and it prevents your real self from coming through.

My role is to help you make sure your application shines by bringing forward your strengths, experiences, and perspective in a way that feels specific, genuine, and memorable.

I hope we get a chance to work together to make the process feel less overwhelming and to help your application truly reflect who you are.

Answer 2

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 3

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.