College Essays: Yellow, Red, Green Flags

In the end, there are no bad topics, just bad essays.

However, some topics are TRICKIER than others – either because they are in bad taste or just cliché.

Examples…

How you’re so awesome

How did you get that way? Your essay should make you look awesome without just saying it.

Your High School Drama

Because it makes you look like high school is your whole life, instead of thinking about college.

Your Travel Journal

It can be done well, but you have to show what YOU gained from the experience, not just how cool the places you visited were.

Religious or Philosophical Arguments

Figured out the meaning of life? Great. But don’t preach to the person who’s reading your essay.

Quoting famous people

Martin Luther King once said… that students should come up with their OWN brilliant words!

Making fun of the prompt

You can definitely be funny in your essay, but don’t try to turn it into a satire, or be cynical in your essay – colleges won’t want you on their campus.

Your Excuses

There may be very good reasons that you didn’t perform as well as you should have in high school – but this should be coming from your advisor. Stay positive

in your own essay.

Your illegal behavior

Even if you got caught, got punished and learned from the experience… colleges don’t want trouble.

Hot-button issues

People have strong feelings about topics like abortion, terrorism, gun control, police, etc… no matter what you write, you may offend the reader of your

essay.

Stories outside of high school

Show that you’re engaged with the larger world!

Show how you’ve grown

You may be awesome now, but what key life experience, mentor, or idea did you have which helped you get there?

Specific personal details

Your essay should be so specific that there is no WAY it could belong to anybody else.