'ACCEPTED' Starts Here: 5 College Application Mistakes to AVOID

The Essential College Coaches have been teaching students how to get accepted to their dream college for over a decade. Students who apply our methodology will avoid the following mistakes and dramatically increase their chances of seeing ‘ACCEPTED’.

1. Avoid a High Low List Mistake: 

Don't fall into the trap of applying to too many reach schools (which are difficult to get into) and too many safety schools (which are easier to get into), while overlooking target schools, those where you are truly competitive. This “high-low” strategy carries a serious risk: rejections from all of your reach schools and acceptance only to the safeties that may not genuinely excite you.

But the real cost? Missed opportunities.

Target schools are where students thrive both academically and socially. They are also the schools most likely to offer generous merit aid, honors programs, and a well-rounded college experience.

We work closely with our students to build a balanced list and identify the colleges where they will both succeed and be happy.

2. Do Not Overlook Fit Mistake:

Never apply to a college based on name, prestige, because everyone else is applying there, or you have heard another student like it.

Why it hurts: 

Even if you're admitted, it may not meet your expectations, and you could end up unhappy or transfer later.

We help our students find the Right-Fit College, teaching them how to research and distill the thousands of college options, how to conduct informative college visits and how to ensure it meets their academic interests, professional goals, and feels like a place they want to spend the next 4 years. Always ask yourself: “Would I thrive here?”

3. Underestimating the Importance of the Activities and Honors Sections on your Common Application Mistake:

Do Not Type your Activities Directly onto the Common Application without Solid Preparation. How you order and describe your activities and honors will significantly impact how admissions officers view your accomplishments and could be the difference between ‘Accepted’ and ‘Rejected. 

Instead, we teach our students to order the Activities Section by Importance/Impact (Not Chronology) highlighting their activities, leadership roles and demonstrating where they have devoted time and passion. Be specific about accomplishments detailing your growth & impact in quantifiable ways (hours, tons of collected food, $$, etc.). If you’ve done multiple similar things (like volunteering, music or dance) consider grouping them under one broader heading to save space. Use Active verbs: “Founded,” “Led,” “Organized,” “Tutored,” “Researched.” 

The Honors/Awards section should list your achievements in order of prestige or competitiveness, starting with international or national awards. Always lead with the most impressive and selective honors: “Selected as one of 100 finalists from a pool of 5,000 applicants.”

4. Writing a Weak Essay, Using ChatGPT or Not Answering the Prompt Mistake:

College Admissions will review your entire application package in less than 10 minutes. Your essay offers the chance to show who you are beyond your grades, scores, and make a positive impression leading to Acceptance. A weak essay wastes that opportunity. If your essay is unclear, includes generic or ChatGPT-like phrasing, or reads like a resume in paragraph form, the Admissions officer will STOP reading immediately.

The Fix - we coach our students to craft essays that reflect their unique voice, telling personal stories that reveal growth and insight. The more descriptive details you include drawing the reader into your life, the more compelling your essay will be. Many colleges also require Supplemental Essays in their application and this is where students often go wrong. Read the prompt carefully before writing, then create an outline to address each part of the question and challenge yourself throughout your writing to ensure that you have fully answered the question.

5. Ignoring Application Instructions or Deadlines Mistake:

Submitting an incomplete or late application signals carelessness and a lack of attention to detail and many colleges will automatically reject it. With tens of thousands of applications to review, admissions officers won’t hesitate to ignore those that don’t follow instructions, making it easy to put you in the Reject pile without ever opening your application. 

At Essential College Coaches we provide students with resources to create a personalized application calendar, including a day-by-day guide to staying on track. Our methodology also ensures every submission requirement is double-checked for completion before you hit SUBMIT.