The #1 Mistake Smart Students Make When Writing Their College Essays

If you’re a high-achieving student applying to top colleges this year, you’ve likely done everything right up to this point. You’ve earned stellar grades, loaded up on AP courses, crushed the SAT or ACT, and built a list of extracurriculars that would make anyone jealous. Throughout high school, your strategy has been simple: excel at everything.

But now you face a new challenge: the college essay. And this is where that strategy often backfires. In a strange twist, if you try to “excel” at your essay the same way you did in chemistry class or on the debate team, you might actually hurt your chances. Why? Because you end up sounding exactly like every other high achiever applying to the Ivy League.

The biggest issue isn’t bad grammar or a boring topic; it’s a fundamental misunderstanding of what the essay is for. Many bright students treat the essay like just another assignment to ace, leading to one of the most common college essay mistakes: turning a personal story into a performance.

Why Excelling Doesn’t Work Here

When students try to “crush” the essay, they typically fall into two traps. First, they might try too hard to be unique. They look up “successful” essays online and try to mimic them, writing gimmicky pieces like “Five ways I’m like a spoon” or “What Netflix taught me about identity.” While these might seem creative, admissions officers have read thousands of similar “quirky” essays. They often come across as superficial rather than insightful.

The second, and far more common trap, is the “humble brag.” This is one of the most frequent college essay mistakes smart students make. They use the essay to re-list their accomplishments, assuming that reminding the admissions officer of their greatness one more time will seal the deal.

Consider this example from a student interested in data science:

“My interest in data science isn’t just academic — it’s shaped almost everything I’ve chosen to pursue. I co-founded a nonprofit that connects students with virtual tutoring opportunities… I lead our Science Olympiad team, which recently qualified for nationals…”

The writing is fine, and the achievements are impressive. But as a college essay, it fails. The admissions officer already has your resume. They know your GPA, your test scores, and your leadership roles. They don’t need a summary; they need to know who you are behind the resume.

The Problem with the Humble Brag

It’s easy to understand why students do this. Everyone around you—parents, teachers, peers—is telling you that to get into Harvard, Princeton, or Stanford, you need to be perfect. It feels natural to use the essay as one last chance to prove you belong.

However, when every applicant takes this approach, it loses its power. Admissions officers read dozens of applications a day. When they encounter yet another essay that essentially says, “Look at how hard I work,” they tune out. They think, “This student is smart, but I already knew that. This essay didn’t add anything new.”

While it is true that some students get into top schools with “humble brag” essays, they usually get in despite the essay, not because of it. Their grades and extracurriculars were likely strong enough on their own. But for the vast majority of applicants who don’t have a guaranteed spot, relying on a resume-focused essay is one of those critical college essay mistakes that can cost you an acceptance letter.

Be Interesting, Not Just Impressive

So, what is the alternative? If you want to stand out, stop trying to impress and start trying to reflect.

The Common App essay prompts aren’t trick questions designed to see who can boast the most artfully. They are genuine invitations to share your personality. The people who wrote those prompts want to know about your character, your values, and how you view the world. If you use the space to show off, you aren’t answering the question.

The best way to avoid these college essay mistakes is to write about something that isn’t an accomplishment. Your admissions officer will still see your 3.95 GPA and your 1550 SAT score on the other parts of your application. Let those numbers speak for themselves.

Use your essay to discuss a moment that shaped you, a quirk of your personality, or a challenge that changed your perspective—even if it has nothing to do with your intended major or your resume. When an admissions officer finishes an essay like that, they don’t just think, “This student is smart.” They think, “This student is interesting. I want to meet them.”

How to Write a Real Story

Avoiding the humble brag requires a shift in mindset. Stop viewing the essay as a performance and start viewing it as a conversation. It is a chance to show that you are self-aware, curious, and capable of introspection.

Instead of listing what you did, explain why it mattered to you. Instead of describing success, describe a moment of growth. If you can do that, you will avoid the #1 mistake smart students make. You will give admissions officers something they rarely see in a stack of applications: a real story from a real person.

If you are ready to move past the common college essay mistakes and write something memorable, focusing on honesty rather than “impressiveness” is the best place to start.

Ready to Stand Out?

Your college essay doesn’t have to be a source of stress or a rehash of your resume. By avoiding the trap of the humble brag, you can write an essay that actually helps your application rather than just filling space.

If you want to ensure your essay reflects your true self and avoids the typical pitfalls, professional guidance can make a significant difference. Learning how to be real, reflective, and memorable is the key to catching an admissions officer’s eye.