"'If you were sitting in a job interview and you wouldn't tell that story out loud, you shouldn't be writing it in your college essay.' Smith's rule is simple: skip anything you wouldn't comfortably share with an adult in person, stories that are overly personal, graphic, illegal or simply unflattering. 'Let's keep the essays PG,' she said in the clip. The college essay, she reminded viewers, isn't an unfiltered confession; it's a professional introduction, one that should reveal growth and judgment, not regret."
"Graphic or overly personal topics, Smith warns, can quickly turn off an admissions reader. 'We typically advise students not to write about anything involving blood, drugs, or illegal activity,' she tells TODAY.com, noting that you'd be surprised by how many try. She adds that essays centered on death, divorce, or family trauma often risk sounding heavy rather than reflective. Instead, Smith urges students to focus on stories that reveal their character, curiosity and growth - 'something you'd be proud to share out loud,' as she puts it. 'The best essays,' Smith tells her clients, 'are ones you'd want to frame on your wall.'"
College essays should function as professional introductions that reveal growth, judgment, and character rather than serving as unfiltered confessions. Applicants should avoid material they would not share comfortably with an adult in person, including graphic details, illegal activity, or highly personal trauma. Topics involving blood, drugs, death, divorce, or family trauma often feel heavy rather than reflective and can turn off admissions officers. Writing about other people, like family members or celebrities, can shift focus away from the applicant. Simpler, everyday moments—learning a skill, understanding a name, or uncovering a new perspective—can effectively demonstrate curiosity and maturity.
Read at TODAY.com
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