Writing a Personal Statement for UCAS: The 10 Big Mistakes Students Should Avoid

A personal statement, the Common App essay is required by most Common App schools. The college essay plays a key role in many institutions’ admissions processes. The 2020-21 Common App essay prompts are the same as last year’s. Experts’ biggest tips include writing how you speak and focusing on the details.

How To: Write Your Personal Essay

1. Be thoughtful, but not fretful.
2. Keep the “personal” in personal essay.
3. Don’t try to guess what the reader wants to hear.
4. Feel free to be funny or creative – but don’t overreach.
5. Tell us something we don’t already know.
6. Ask for input (but not too much).
7. Edit, proof, polish, and breathe.

What should you not write in a college essay?

• Never rehash your academic and extracurricular accomplishments.
• Never write about a “topic”
• Never start with a preamble.
• Never end with a “happily ever after” conclusion.
• Never pontificate.
• Never retreat into your thoughts.
• Never hold back.
• Never give TMI.

College Admissions Essay Topics to Avoid:

• A Summary of Your Accomplishments. College essays are similar to life and, in life, nobody likes a braggart.
• Highly Polarized or Sensitive Topics.
• Sports.
• Humor.
• Why You’re SO Lucky.
• Volunteer Experiences & Trips.
• Self-Expression.
• Illegal or Illicit Behavior.

• Writing a Personal Statement for a subject that isn’t the right fit.
• Spelling & Grammar Mistakes.
• Avoid exuberant language and pointless cliches.
• Endlessly listing extracurricular activities.
• Over-using quotes or taking them out of context.

Tips for a Stellar College Application Essay

1. Write about something that’s important to you.
2. Don’t just recount—reflect!
3. Being funny is tough.
4. Start early and write several drafts.
5. No repeats.
6. Answer the question being asked.
7. Have at least one other person edit your essay.
8. Test Your College Knowledge.

Start with why you chose it, then try and summarise this in one or two sentences. Be original and refer to personal experiences as a way to draw attention. Avoid overused opening sentences, quotes and clichés like ‘when I was young…’ They want to know about you now, not your childhood or Shakespeare!

Here are some steps to writing an amazing college essay:

1. Select your topic.
2. Take time to reflect.
3. Discover your voice.
4. Review the essay prompts.
5. Share your ideas verbally.
6. Begin writing.
7. Speak directly to the reader.
8. Read it aloud.

Organizing Your Paper

1. Thesis. The first step in organizing any essay is to create a thesis statement.
2. Supporting Paragraphs. The next step in organizing my essay is creating body paragraphs to support your thesis.
3. Topic Outline.
4. Thesis.
5. Supporting Paragraphs.
6. Topic Outline.