Without proper guidance, students write their college application essays the same as they would write a five-paragraph essay in their English class. The difference is, college application essays like the Personal Statement and supplemental essays require introspection and a narrative approach.

There are seven prompts to choose from on the Common App for your personal statement essay. If you aren’t sure which prompt works for you, read our blog post on Choosing A Personal Statement Topic. There are hundreds of supplemental essay topics that a student could potentially write about, but the rules of crafting these college application essays are generally the same. 

In this article, we will review common college application mistakes to avoid. We’ll also provide plenty of examples so you can review these mistakes in context. You also want to be aware of what topics to avoid in college essays. So if you’re curious about common application mistakes and cliche college essay topics to avoid, read on for further insights!

Avoid taboo topics

Imagine you meet the admissions officer through a mutual friend and this is the first time you’re meeting. You likely won’t talk about politics and religion. The same goes for your application essay. 

While you can talk about these topics if they are important to you, it’s extremely important to speak on them in a way that will not offend your reader. Always be respectful. Context is also important. If you are applying to a religious school or a school known for having similar political values as you, you can discuss your views more freely.

It’s also important to remain optimistic in your college essays. Topics about overcoming personal challenges can demonstrate positive personality traits such as compassion, resiliency, and maturity. It’s equally important, however, to avoid sounding too nihilistic. College admissions officers do not need (or necessarily want) to hear about your darkest moments. They’d much rather hear about what excites and inspires you. Keep this in mind as you consider what you should put in your college essay.

While your college essay should be personal and introspective, again, there is no need to overshare. There is a lot of pressure to write mature and moving essays. In the end, though, your college essay shouldn’t be a political, social, or religious manifesto; it should be about getting into college. 

Let’s look at two examples:

The following excerpts are both political. While the first excerpt balances tone and content well, the second excerpt is too controversial for a college application essay. Let’s take a quick look at some of the do’s and don’ts when approaching political topics. 

Avoid repeating accomplishments

The next faux pas students make on their college application essays is rehashing accomplishments that were previously mentioned in their application. This is another important consideration when thinking about college application essay topics to avoid.

Listing your academic accomplishments, extracurricular activities, and community work are redundant. An admissions officer doesn’t want to hear about how you’re the president and/or leader of all of these clubs and that is what makes you so great. They want to get a greater sense of your personality and how you interact with the world. The best college essays are introspective, unique, and self-aware.

starting a nonprofit

Remember, admissions officers read thousands of essays. They want to read essays that excite them and are memorable. So, what do you write about in your college essay? Ideally, your college essay should inspire admissions officers to view the rest of your application from a new perspective. 

Let’s look at some more examples:

While your high school GPA and level of course rigor are important college application factors, they should be highlighted in other sections of your application. There is no need to write about your academic accomplishments in your essay. The following examples both discuss extracurricular activities. Let’s take a look at what they could have done better. 

Beware of losing the main character

Finally, some students get caught up writing a story about a personal role model. This can be a parent, a friend, or a teacher. However, students tend to make the focal point about that person and not about themselves. In the end, the reader learns more about the student’s parent, friend, or teacher and nothing about the student. 

Let’s look at one final example:

College admissions officers want to know what inspires and excites you. When this is a person, however, it’s important not to focus on them too much within your essay. After all, your college essay should be about you!

Other common mistakes to avoid

Like with any important piece of writing, give yourself enough time to write several drafts. Seek out feedback from a few trusted individuals, such as your high school guidance counselor, an English teacher, or a parent. Avoid asking too many people for their opinion, however. This will likely lead to confusion and overediting. 

You’ll also want to make sure that your essay is grammatically correct. If there are significant errors in your essay or other common app mistakes, admissions officers may believe that you do not take your college applications seriously. In some cases, they may even question your ability to write at a college level and therefore, succeed in college classes.

Key takeaways and moving forward

During your college research, pay close attention to what you should not write about in a college essay. You may also want to explore topics such as what happens during the college admissions committee review and reasons college applications may get rejected. 

College application season can be a stressful time of year and it’s important to learn as much as you can about the different parts of the process. Whether you need help keeping track of important deadlines or knowing how to fill out financial aid documents, such as the FAFSA, remember to ask for help when you need it. 

Here at Prepory, we have the resources to help students succeed. If you have dreams of attending a highly-selective college, such as an Ivy League, reach out to learn more about our services and how we can help you reach your college goals. 

College application season can feel overwhelming at times. Especially when you’re just getting started. In addition to researching colleges and preparing your applications, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with a lot of new vocabulary, including Regular Decision, Early Decision, Early Action, and Rolling Admissions. 

As a high school junior or senior, you likely have a lot of questions, including What does Regular Decision mean? What is the difference between Early Action and Regular Decision? And what is Rolling Admission?

In this article, we will focus on the differences between Regular Decision, Early Decision, Early Action, and Rolling Admissions. We will also review common Regular Decision application deadlines, as well as popular Regular Decision release dates. 

The different types of college application deadlines

There are 5 major types of college application deadlines: Early Decision, Early Decision II, Early Action, Regular Decision, and Rolling Admission. It can feel difficult to understand and keep track of important college admissions dates, especially when you are trying to understand the differences between Early Action and Early Decision. 

Here’s a table to help you get a better sense of typical deadlines and notification dates for each type of application:

Application type Typical deadlines Typical notification dates
Early Decision November December
Early Decision II December/January March
Early Action November December
Regular Decision January/February March/April
Rolling Admission Varies Generally within 4-6 weeks

Now that we have a better idea of deadlines and notification dates, let’s take a closer look at what each type of application means. This will be key to staying organized during the college application process. 

Early Decision

Early Decision application programs are offered by highly-selective colleges and are meant for serious applicants only. These programs are binding, which means that students cannot apply early to other colleges, have to rescind any regular decision applicants upon their acceptance, and are contractually obligated to attend the school if they are admitted. By submitting Early Decision applications, students demonstrate their interest and commitment to a school. Because of this, their applications are given a competitive edge. Early Decision applications are often due in November and applicants receive their admissions decisions sometime in December.

Early Decision II

Early Decision II application programs are almost identical to Early Decision application programs. Students are contractually obligated to attend if accepted and cannot submit any other early applications. They must also rescind any Regular Decision applications upon their acceptance. The only differences are that the applications are due a bit later than Early Decision I applications and students are notified of their admissions decisions a bit later as well. 

Early Action

As the name suggests, Early Action applications are submitted early. As such, applicants also receive their admissions decisions early. Students who submit Early Action applications demonstrate a clear interest in the college they are applying to. Unlike Early Decision applications, however, Early Action applications are not binding. This means that students who choose to apply Early Action can submit other Early Action (but not Early Decision) applications, as well as any number of Regular Decision applications. If admitted through Early Action, a student is free to decide whether to attend or not attend the college.  

Regular Decision

Students can submit as many Regular Decision applications as they would like. These applications do not receive the same competitive edge that an early application may grant them, but generally speaking, this does not impact their chances of admission significantly. Regular Decision applications are the most popular type of college application. This is because students can apply to as many schools as they want, have more time to assemble their applications, can retake the SAT or ACT if needed, can visit more prospective college campuses, and are free to compare financial aid packages upon receiving their admissions decisions. Regular Decision application deadlines generally fall in January. Regular Decision notification dates are typically in March or April. 

Rolling Admissions

Schools that offer Rolling Admissions do not have an application deadline. This means that you can apply much later in the year. It’s important to keep in mind, however, that the later you apply, the fewer application slots the school may have left. Students who choose to apply through Rolling Admissions typically are not satisfied with the list of colleges they have been accepted to and are looking to expand their options. Rolling Admissions are also helpful for students who’ve decided they want to attend college after the majority of application deadlines have passed. 

More about Regular Decision

Now that we’ve established what each type of application type is, let’s take another look at Regular Decision. Again, what is Regular Admission or Regular Decision? It’s the most common type of college application. Even students who apply early prepare many Regular Decision applications to make sure they have plenty of choices come spring. 

Is Early Decision better than Regular Decision? Not necessarily. Early Decision and Early Action have their place but aren’t for every student. Applying to highly-selective schools is challenging, but applying early only grants you a slight advantage. It is also very limiting. There is also a lot of debate regarding whether Early Decision programs are ethical because they tend to favor wealthier students. This is because most students cannot afford to enter a binding agreement without comparing financial aid packages.

Now let’s discuss Regular Decision vs Rolling Admission. In general, you should plan to apply to schools by the Regular Decision application deadline and reserve Rolling Admission applications for backup schools. You may decide to attend a college you were admitted to through Rolling Admissions, but overall, deadlines are an important way to stay organized during the college application process. However, as previously discussed, applying to schools through Rolling Admission is a great opportunity for students running behind on their college applications or for students looking for more options. 

Regular Decision deadlines

Regular Decision deadlines typically occur sometime in January. This is ideal for the majority of students, because it gives them plenty of time to write a successful college essay, detail their extracurricular activities, ask for letters of recommendation, and complete any college supplemental essays. It also gives them plenty to come up with an SAT study plan and schedule if they need to retake the exam. 

Motivated students may be able to assemble one or two early applications, but overall, college applications should not be rushed. This is one of the advantages of applying through Regular Decision. Now, how long does Regular Decision take? Typically admissions decisions are sent out in March or April, although the Regular Decision release date is different for each college. 

Key takeaways and moving forward

It’s important to learn about Early Action and Early Decision application programs as soon as you can so that you can prepare for your college applications accordingly. This is why it’s important to reach out to your high school guidance counselors and teachers with any questions you may have about the college admissions process. They will be able to answer questions, such as: What’s the difference between Early Decision and Regular Decision? And can I change Early Decision to Regular Decision? 

Hopefully, though, most of your questions have already been answered! If you feel like you could benefit from professional guidance during college application season, reach out to learn more about our services. Here at Prepory, we have the resources and expertise to help you assemble competitive applications while prioritizing what college admissions officers look for in an applicant.