Essay topics applicants should NEVER write about

Mr.Fitzpatrick
Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:36:52 +0000

Here are a few lessons I’ve learned from college counselors and actual admissions officers:

Okay, they do not like it when you send them something uncomfortable to read. For instance, this one girl sent an essay about being raped. She did not really talk about how it changed her or how it has affected her, but rather she focused on the act itself and a little of the aftermath. Imagine how awkward it must feel to read something so personal that should have been discussed in the comfort of a therapist’s office.

Also, showing how original you are can go too far. For instance, one girl wrote her essay backwards, so that it had to be read in a mirror (Leonardo DaVinci style). If your an admissions officer and you spend hours and hours reading essays all day long, you don’t want one that is too complex or difficult to read. (By the way, they didn’t read it.)

Admissions committees love voice. They want to hear passion and thought. No matter what you write about, don’t sound aggressive, formulaic, close-minded, or fake.

There actually is a book all about application mistakes that can completely ruin an application. Most of them occur in the essay. Have a multitude of people read it and make sure they like it, it doesn’t make them feel uncomfortable, and that they understand your purpose.