Top 5 College Essay Topics to Avoid (And What to Write About Instead)
Avoid common college essay mistakes with this guide to overused, risky, and cliché topics. Learn what to write instead, and how to craft a standout application essay.
Writing a strong college application essay is one of the most critical parts of getting into your dream school. While admissions officers review your grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities, your essay is your opportunity to speak directly to them and to show who you are beyond the numbers.
Especially at competitive colleges, your essay helps you stand out from other qualified applicants. It's a place to share your story, your values, and why that college fits you. A compelling essay can strengthen your application, while a poorly chosen topic or tone can work against you.
In this post, we’ll cover what not to write about in a college essay, explain why specific topics fall flat (or worse), and offer better ideas to help you write a more memorable and authentic piece.
Top 5 College Essay Topics to Avoid
Your personal statement should reflect thoughtfulness, maturity, and self-awareness. However, specific topics can easily lead your essay in the wrong direction. Here are five of the most common college essay topics to avoid:
Politics
Politics is often deeply personal—and deeply divisive. Even if you’re passionate about current events, taking a strong stance in your essay can alienate your reader. Political essays may come off as preachy, rigid, or combative without thoughtful nuance. Unless you're applying to a political science program and can write with academic objectivity, it's usually best to steer clear.
Religion
Faith can be a powerful part of your identity, but religious essays walk a fine line. Essays that aim to convert, judge other beliefs, or focus heavily on doctrine can raise red flags for admissions teams who value open-mindedness and inclusivity. If your faith has shaped your values or resilience, that’s fair game, but focus on your personal growth, not theology.
Race
Race and identity matter. However, essays that are vague, generalized, or rely too heavily on trauma without context can come off as performative or emotionally overwhelming. If you write about race, center it in your lived experience and how it has shaped your perspective, goals, or actions.
Academic Achievements
Your grades, test scores, and awards appear elsewhere in your application. Repeating them in your essay wastes a valuable opportunity. Instead of recounting your résumé, share a story that reveals your personality, growth, or a challenge you overcame.
Unpopular or Controversial Opinions
Trying to be provocative by sharing edgy or unpopular views often backfires. Admissions officers aren’t looking for shock value; they’re looking for reflection and maturity. Avoid essays that come off as arrogant, insensitive, or argumentative just for the sake of being different.
Other Weak College Essay Topics to Avoid
Even if they don’t seem controversial, the topics below are often overdone or too shallow to be effective:
Generic Passions: Passion is great, but your essay needs to connect it to your goals or the impact you hope to have. Avoid shallow stories that don’t show how your interests relate to your future.
Bragging: Confidence is good. Arrogance isn’t. Over-the-top self-promotion can make you seem self-centered.
Bootlicking: Don’t overdo your praise of a specific college. Excessive flattery can feel disingenuous or desperate.
Cliché College Essay Topics to Skip
Admissions teams read thousands of essays. You risk blending in if you choose a topic they’ve seen hundreds of times. Try to avoid these overused ideas:
Winning the big game or sports underdog stories
Playing an instrument without a deeper story
General community service or mission trip accounts
Illness and loss without personal insight or growth
Travel stories with vague takeaways
Tributes to grandparents or other family members that focus on them, rather than on you
College Essay Topics Worth Exploring
There’s no “perfect” topic. The best essays are honest, specific, and reveal something real about you. Here are a few college essay topic ideas that stand out:
The best advice you’ve ever received: What was it, who gave it, and how did it change you?
A unique family tradition: Something personal and specific that shaped your worldview or identity.
Dinner with a historical figure: Who would you choose, and why? What would you ask? What would you eat?
A personal passion project or unusual hobby: Something that shows creativity, initiative, or curiosity.
Your life as a book: What would the title be? What chapter are you in?
Need more inspiration? Check out this guide on Top college essay topics & prompts for a winning application from the University of Cincinnati.
Tips for Choosing (and Writing) Your College Essay Topic
The right topic doesn’t have to be dramatic; it just needs to be meaningful to you. Start with reflection. Think about a moment, experience, or belief that reveals something important about who you are.
Here are a few final tips:
Start with a strong hook: A great first sentence grabs attention. Here’s a helpful guide: How to Write a Hook for a College Application Essay
Keep it personal: Your story should be unique to you. Avoid vague or generic responses: How to Write a Personal Essay for a Typical College Application
Consider writing an admission letter
Learn how to frame your message clearly and confidently: How to Write a Stand-Out College Admission LetterBe authentic
You don’t need a “wow” topic. Just be honest, thoughtful, and true to yourself.
Need Help With Your Essay?
Your college essay is one of your application's most personal and powerful parts. If you want expert guidance on crafting an essay that makes a lasting impression, our experienced essay tutors can help.
