Avoiding the Essay Graveyard: Common Pitfalls and How to Fix Them

Overused Topics and How to Revitalize Them

Certain essay topics appear with such frequency that they have become clichés in the world of admissions. While it is often wise to avoid them, the true problem is rarely the topic itself, but the generic execution and predictable lesson. An "unremarkable" story can be made memorable with deep, personal, and unexpected reflection.

Common Clichés: The sports injury/championship game, the mission/volunteer trip, overcoming a bad grade, the death of a grandparent, moving to a new town, and stories about personal tragedy.
The Predictable Lesson: These essays often conclude with a generic takeaway, such as "I learned the value of hard work," "I realized how privileged I am," or "I learned that life is short".
The "Fix-It" Strategy: To revitalize a common topic, the student must find a unique angle and a more nuanced reflection.
- For the "Sports Injury" Essay: Instead of focusing on the physical recovery, write about what was learned from the sidelines—about leadership, coaching, or discovering a new passion for sports medicine.
- For the "Mission Trip" Essay: Instead of a grand epiphany about poverty, focus on a small, specific moment of cultural miscommunication or personal failure and what it taught about humility, empathy, and the complexity of service.
- For the "Tragedy" Essay: Keep the focus squarely on the applicant's personal evolution, not on the tragic event itself. For example, detail how a family tragedy forced a new level of responsibility, changing the student's role within their family and their understanding of adulthood.

Writing Traps and How to Escape Them

Beyond clichéd topics, several common writing traps can weaken an otherwise promising essay.

The Résumé in Prose: This essay simply recites accomplishments from the activities list instead of telling a story. It wastes a valuable opportunity to reveal personality and character.
The Thesaurus-Rex: This essay is filled with overly complex vocabulary in an attempt to sound impressive. It often obscures meaning and makes the writer seem arrogant or inauthentic.
The Grand Abstraction: This essay discusses broad concepts like "leadership," "diversity," or "hardship" without grounding them in a specific, personal anecdote. The result is a vague and forgettable piece.
The Supporting Actor: This essay focuses on an inspiring person—a grandparent, coach, or historical figure—to such an extent that the admirable person, not the student, becomes the hero of the story. The essay must always circle back to the student's own growth and experience.
The Overly Controversial Topic: Tackling a polarizing political, religious, or social issue is risky. Unless handled with extreme nuance, these essays can come across as dogmatic and may alienate a reader, all without revealing the student's capacity for critical thinking or personal growth.

The Cliché Phrase Hit List

During the final proofreading stage, students should actively search for and eliminate overused phrases and idioms that weaken their writing and make it sound generic. Removing these expressions is a quick way to improve the originality and impact of the prose. Common culprits include:

"At the end of the day..."
"Blood, sweat, and tears..."
"Every cloud has a silver lining..."
"Gave it my all..." or "Gave 110%..."
"I learned the value of hard work..."
"Last but not least..."
"Light at the end of the tunnel..."
"Little did I know..."
"Seize the day..."
"Thinking outside the box..."
"A wake-up call..."
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger..."