Overused Essay Topics
All right, juniors—summer is coming, and so is the time to start writing those college essays. Whether you’re dreading it or excited to spill your life story, one thing is for sure: your essay needs to stand out. Admissions officers read thousands of these, and if you go with an overused topic, your application might just blend into the pile.
Your essay should showcase who you are, not just what you’ve done. It should make the reader feel like they just met an awesome, real person they’d want on campus. But if you choose a cliché topic, you risk making yourself forgettable. So let’s talk about the essay topics that are way overdone and how to avoid them.
Unfortunately, many applicants do themselves a disservice by taking on topics that don’t resonate well with the admission readers, thus giving a false or incorrect impression of the writer. The essay's focus, or topic, must engage the reader from the very first sentence, share a positive, optimistic, and truthful picture of the applicant, and allow the reader to feel confident that this particular applicant fits their profile. Here are some overused and unhelpful topics that students are encouraged to avoid.
A laundry list of accomplishments that sounds both arrogant and boastful, and fails to share anything substantial about who you really are. Don’t exaggerate your achievements because it will probably show through in your writing, and that lack of authenticity breaks all the requirements for a solid and original college essay.
Sports essays as a metaphor for life ("I scored the winning goal and it changed my life") are overused, so they will often fall flat. If you choose to write about sports, personalize your experiences. Tell the reader more about some aspect of your sport that has given you a deeper insight into who you are and what you want.
If you’re naturally hilarious, your voice will come through. But forcing humor is risky. If you are a truly funny person, tell a story that illustrates this about you, but trying to be funny just to amuse the reader is usually not going to work. Don’t tell off-color jokes or make fun of anyone; your reader wants to get to know you, not attend a comedy show. Take risks but don’t be risqué.
Given the current polarization in many parts of the world, it is best to avoid topics such as politics or religion; remember, you don’t know who is reading your essay. Again, know yourself and know your college. Be careful about being too controversial in your essay, and avoid any descriptions of illicit behaviors, profane language, drugs, or alcohol. Don't try to shock your reader as a way to be memorable; it will likely backfire horribly.
Many students participate in community service and, for those lucky enough to have significant resources, may complete international travel with a volunteer component. These essays can also fail to win over the reader because they fail to share anything personal about these wonderful opportunities.
Don’t write another laundry list of ‘what I did in Costa Rica to save the green turtles’ - write about a local volunteer you connected with, someone doing work important to you, and from whom you learned an important life lesson. Keep the focus on what you learned about yourself and the world around you.
The classic essay that is way too often submitted is the one about someone else! That’s right. It's not about you but about your grandmother/father/sister/neighbor/coach – you get the idea. This one always falls flat because, invariably, the reader comes away thinking that they would love to meet your grandmother/etc, and not you!
Many students dig around for some kind of challenge they have had to overcome. A challenge doesn't have to be monumental to the rest of the world to be worth sharing. Every day struggles like overcoming your fear of public speaking to deliver a great speech in class, or figuring out how to help your friends work out a stressful conflict, could be very effective if they show your problem-solving skills in action. Keep it real, and keep the focus on you, honestly.
Stay focused on one moment in time that significantly impacted your life, stay away from clichés and exaggerated lists of events and achievements, and allow your true, best self to shine. Start with a strong opening and grow from there – make your admission readers smile, jump up from their chairs, and share your essay with colleagues. Let them know the real YOU!
