5 Words to CUT From Your College Essay

Today we’re talking about five words to cut out of your college application essay.

The first is you. Students often describe their activities like, “you go to meetings and you do community service,” but you is the reader, and that’s not who did those things. This is a first-person essay, so write about yourself in the first person with the word I. I went to meetings. I did community service.

The second word to cut is hope, like, “I hope to major in this,” or, “I hope to have a career in that.” You have to be a person of action. Be assertive: I plan, I expect, I will.

A third word to cut from your essay is etc. If you’re writing a list and you’re out of things, don’t put etc. to try and fool your reader. They’re not an idiot. They know you’re out of things.

The fourth word to cut from your essay is think. Don’t tell them, “I think,” and then say your thing. Just say the thing. Obviously, you think it. You wrote it.

And the fifth word to cut is any word labeling the part of your essay, like lessons or future. Yes, those things belong in your essay, but don’t label it like you’re just writing from some template.

If you have more questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at 732-556-8220. We are here to help.