Applying to college is a big deal, and one of the most important parts of the process is writing a strong essay. The college essay gives students a chance to share their unique stories and show what makes them stand out. However, writing a great essay isn’t easy, and many students make common mistakes. Luckily, there are tech tools that can help students avoid these mistakes and write essays that impress college admissions officers.
In this article, we’ll look at some of the most common mistakes students make when writing their essays—and how technology can help fix them.
1. Talking Too Much About Achievements
It’s easy to focus on things like college internships, leadership positions, or Advanced Placement (AP) classes in your essay. While those are important, colleges want to see more about who you are as a person, not just what you’ve accomplished.
Our Tech Recommendation:
Writing Tools: Apps like Grammarly and ChatGPT can help students shift the focus from a list of achievements to personal growth. These tools can help students think of better ways to talk about their experiences in a more meaningful way.
Outline Makers: Tools like Trello or Google Docs help students plan out their essay so it has a good mix of personal stories and accomplishments.
2. Using Boring, Overused Language
Some essays are filled with clichés like “I’ve always wanted to be a doctor,” or “I work hard and never give up.” Phrases like these are overused and don’t show much personality.
Our Tech Recommendation:
Essay Review Apps: Platforms like CollegeVine or Prompt can point out when you’re using clichés and suggest more creative ways to express yourself. These apps can help make your essay more original and memorable.
AI Tools for Personalization: Some AI tools, powered by deep learning, can analyze your essay and help you find fresh, authentic ways to share your story.
3. Not Organizing the Essay Well
Sometimes, essays can be hard to follow because they jump from one idea to the next without a clear flow. A well-organized essay helps the reader stay interested and engaged.
Our Tech Recommendation:
Essay Organizers: Tools like Google Docs and Scrivener allow students to create outlines that make it easier to organize their thoughts. Using these tools, students can make sure their essay flows smoothly.
Mind-Mapping Apps: Apps like Lucidchart or MindMeister help students map out their ideas visually, making it easier to structure the essay logically.
4. Skipping Grammar and Spell Checks
Spelling and grammar mistakes can make an otherwise good essay look sloppy. Small errors can give a bad impression to college admissions officers.
Our Tech Recommendation:
Grammar Checkers: Tools like Grammarly and Hemingway catch mistakes that are easy to miss. They also help improve sentence structure and clarity, making your essay easier to read.
Proofreading Apps: Automated proofreading tools like PaperRater check your essay for both grammar and content flow, helping students turn in polished work.
5. Not Being Authentic
College admissions officers want to hear your voice. Some students write what they think colleges want to hear, which can make the essay sound fake or overly polished.
Our Tech Recommendation:
Tone Analyzers: AI tools like Grammarly or Jasper analyze the tone of your essay, ensuring it reflects your true personality and doesn’t sound robotic or overly formal.
Originality Tools: Apps that check for authenticity help students ensure their essay is true to who they are and doesn’t sound like everyone else’s.
6. No Clear Theme
A strong essay needs to have a clear theme or central idea. Some students write essays that feel scattered or unclear, which can confuse the reader.
Our Tech Recommendation:
Theme Tools: AI-powered tools guide students in developing a strong theme for their essay, making sure it has a clear message that ties everything together.
Brainstorming Platforms: Apps like Notion and Evernote let students track and organize ideas, helping them stay focused on the main theme.
7. Procrastinating and Writing in a Rush
Many students wait until the last minute to start writing their essay. Rushed essays often have more mistakes and lack the polish of essays that have been carefully thought out.
Our Tech Recommendation:
Time Management Apps: Tools like Notion, Trello, or Google Calendar can help students break the essay into smaller steps, set deadlines, and avoid procrastination.
Task-Tracking Tools: Apps like Todoist or MyStudyLife can help students keep track of what needs to be done and plan their time better.
8. Editing Too Much
Over-editing can be just as bad as not editing enough. Sometimes, after too many revisions, an essay loses its original spark and no longer sounds like the student who wrote it.
Our Tech Recommendation:
Version Control Tools: Platforms like Google Docs or Dropbox Paper save different versions of your essay, so you can go back to an earlier draft if needed.
Collaborative Editing: Tools like Google Docs allow teachers, parents, or friends to give feedback without making major changes to the essay’s original tone.
9. Not Answering the Prompt
Some students get so focused on telling their story that they forget to fully answer the essay prompt.
Our Tech Recommendation:
Prompt Checkers: AI tools can break down the prompt and guide students on how to answer it completely. These tools ensure that the essay stays relevant to what the college is asking for.
Prompt Matching Platforms: These tools help students match their experiences and stories with the essay prompt, making sure they stay on track.
10. Not Getting Feedback
Another common mistake is not asking for feedback before submitting the essay. Getting input from others can help catch mistakes and make the essay stronger.
Our Tech Recommendation:
Peer Review Platforms: Websites like Scribophile or StudyClerk allow students to get feedback from other writers. This can help students see their essay from a fresh perspective and make improvements.
AI Feedback Generators: AI tools can provide detailed feedback on grammar, structure, and content, helping students improve their essays without needing to rely on human reviewers all the time.
Conclusion
Writing a strong college essay is a critical step in the admissions process. With the help of technology—from online tech courses to AI-powered tools—students can avoid common mistakes and create essays that stand out. Whether you're applying to traditional colleges or online colleges, these tools can help make your essay writing smoother, smarter, and more effective.
Comments