5 Common App Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
by Matt McGee
The Common App is being released on Friday, and it is notoriously full of subtle pitfalls that can weaken your application. Lets dive into the 5 most common mistakes I see every year and what you can do to avoid them.
1. Using Your School Email to Register
School accounts often get deactivated after graduation, which means you could miss crucial updates like getting pulled off the waitlist or receiving financial aid decisions after the final round.
Instead: Create a personal Gmail account dedicated to college applications. It ensures you won’t lose access, and it keeps all admissions communication in one place.
2. Letting Your English Teacher Take Over Your Essay
You love your English teacher. They may be a brilliant writer, but admissions essays aren’t literary masterpieces. They’re personal narratives that fit into a very specific strategy. Teachers often focus on prose, not positioning.
Instead: Think of your essay as public relations. It should reflect your authentic voice, not just polished grammar. Admissions officers want to meet you, not your 5-paragraph essay.
3. Using the Essay to List Achievements
Many students fall into the trap of using their personal statement to rattle off accomplishments. That’s what the activities section is for. Colleges have already read your resume, don’t share it again.
Instead: Your essay should get at the abstract version of yourself. Something that reveals your values, growth, or personality. This is the place to be original and (reasonably) creative. Don’t pass up the opportunity to share who you are beyond a piece of paper.
4. Listing Activities in Alphabetical Order
The activities section is more than a list. If you list your clubs, internships, and achievements in alphabetical order, they lose their value. Admissions officers often skim this section, so lead with your most impressive and relevant activities and don’t waste words.
Instead: Be strategic. Put leadership roles, awards, or time-intensive commitments first. Keep descriptions short and don’t bury the lede.
5. Overfilling the Additional Information Section
More isn’t always better. Oversharing, especially in optional sections like the additional information, can work against you. Is what you’re adding really necessary? Admissions officers are evaluating your judgment too.
Instead: Use these spaces selectively. Anything that goes here must be absolutely necessary, like a major life event or a dip in grades, not filler.
College admissions isn’t about perfection, it's about clarity and strategy. Use your application to send a clear and targeted message about who you aren and you’ll submit an application that’s not only stronger but also more reflective of who you are - and that's the real answer to the question “How do I stand out?”
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