The Common App Essay: Breaking the "Resume" Habit

The biggest mistake students make on the Common App essay is rewriting their resume. "I stood first in class, then I won the debate, then I learned Python..." This is boring.

The US Personal Statement is about Values, not Achievements. Admissions officers want to know why you do what you do.

Don't write about winning the coding competition. Write about the time your code failed 50 times and what that taught you about patience.

Don't write about "helping the poor." Write about a specific conversation with a person you helped that changed your worldview.

Pericles Rule: If your essay could be written by anyone else with your grades, burn it and start over. It needs to be uniquely yours.