College Essay Topics to Avoid (And What to Write Instead)

Short answer: The obvious ones — mental health challenges, learning disabilities, and anything you’d share with your therapist.

Longer answer: Those topics are high-risk, low-reward. I’m not judging you. The truth is not always helpful here. I’m not suggesting you lie. I’m simply saying it’s not something you want to lead with.

No matter how interesting your mission trip, your sports injury, your parents’ immigration and sacrifice, or that your grandmother taught you to cook — these topics have been done to death. In fact, some AOs refer to them as Kill Me Now essays.

Any topic that focuses on others and not you should be avoided. As I often say, you are the world’s leading expert on you. Share what only you can, in the way that only you can.