Avoiding Common Essay Cliches

When Familiarity Becomes a Liability: Avoiding Common Essay Clichés

In the high-stakes world of college admissions or professional applications, your essay can be the key that unlocks the door. It’s your chance to reveal individuality, motivation, and personality to an admissions committee that has read thousands of other essays. Yet, students often sabotage their efforts by leaning on clichés—those overused storylines, quotes, or themes that lack originality and fail to make a genuine connection. In what follows, we’ll explore some of the most common clichés, detailing why they’re pitfalls and how you can sidestep them. Alongside each cautionary point, I’ll offer brief examples to illustrate what not to do—and how to reinvent a stale theme if you must address it.

1. The “Winning the Big Game” or “Sports Injury” Epiphany

There’s no denying that sports can teach discipline and perseverance. But the problem arises when nearly every athlete’s essay describes the exact same arc: a critical point in a game, an unexpected injury, or a clichéd revelation about teamwork. Admissions officers are tired of reading stories that all converge on “I learned never to give up.”

• Example of a Clichéd Approach:“My entire life changed during the state championship basketball game. I shot the winning basket, and from that moment on, I realized the power of hard work.”

• Why It’s Clichéd:This storyline is everywhere. It offers no fresh insight or personal flair, and the lesson—“hard work pays off”—is a predictable conclusion that doesn’t reveal deeper nuances about the applicant.

• How to Avoid or Refresh It:If you must talk about sports, focus on a unique angle: a surprising interpersonal dynamic, a coach’s unconventional training philosophy, or the internal struggle between being a team player and craving personal glory. Show reflection beyond the final score.

2. The “Overseas Mission Trip Changed My Life” Narrative

Volunteering abroad or experiencing cultural immersion can indeed shift perspectives. But the “I went to a rural village, saw poverty, and realized how blessed I am” storyline can quickly become self-congratulatory, centering more on the writer’s hero complex than genuine cultural exchange.

• Example of a Clichéd Approach:“During my two weeks in a small village in Guatemala, I realized how fortunate we are in America. The smiling faces of the children taught me the importance of gratitude and kindness.”

• Why It’s Clichéd:The essay typically focuses on the applicant’s emotional reaction rather than the local community’s lived experiences. It can come across as tone-deaf or lacking nuanced cultural understanding.

• How to Avoid or Refresh It:Instead of painting yourself as a savior, emphasize a mutual exchange of learning. Perhaps a local family taught you an unexpected lesson about resilience, or you struggled to adapt to local customs but learned something that changed your perspective on collaboration. Offer humility rather than heroic self-portraits.

3. The Tragic Loss with a Predictable Moral

Personal tragedies can shape who we are, and it’s not wrong to share something deeply affecting. However, many essays on loss or hardship default to the same sequence: describing a grim situation, stating “I miss them,” and concluding with “This made me stronger.”

• Example of a Clichéd Approach:“When my grandfather passed away, I was heartbroken. But he always told me never to stop smiling, and now I live by that motto every day.”

• Why It’s Clichéd:While heartfelt, this narrative is common. The transition from sorrow to an oversimplified moral lesson can feel formulaic.

• How to Avoid or Refresh It:Hone in on a specific memory or conversation that captures the person’s character and how it tangibly impacted your way of thinking. Describe the complexities of grief and growth, rather than a neat moral you believe admissions committees expect.

4. The “I Realized I’ve Always Wanted to Be a Doctor” Revelation

Some applicants believe that declaring a lifelong passion—especially for careers like medicine or law—will prove their commitment. However, describing a childhood scene where you wore a plastic stethoscope and miraculously “knew” you’d be a doctor is overdone.

• Example of a Clichéd Approach:“From the moment I first played ‘doctor’ with my stuffed animals, I knew I was destined to save lives.”

• Why It’s Clichéd:Admissions committees read endless variations of “I was born to be X.” It’s overly simplistic, skipping the more interesting story of how your passion evolved over time.

• How to Avoid or Refresh It:Reflect on an in-depth encounter with medicine—maybe volunteering at a local clinic or reading a complex medical case—that tested your assumptions. Show how your perspective matured, rather than claiming you’ve wanted this career from birth.

5. Quoting Famous Figures as the Essay’s Centerpiece

Quoting Einstein or Gandhi isn’t inherently bad, but many essays lean too heavily on these quotations, allowing them to overshadow the applicant’s own voice. Admissions officers want your insights, not a platitude from a historical icon.

• Example of a Clichéd Approach:“As Mahatma Gandhi once said, ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world.’ That quote has guided every step of my life.”

• Why It’s Clichéd:It’s one of the most overused quotes in application essays. Relying on a generic inspirational quote rather than offering a personal reflection makes your essay blend in with the crowd.

• How to Avoid or Refresh It:If a quote genuinely influenced you, explain its context: How did you stumble upon it? Why did it strike a chord specifically in your life? Pair it with a deeply personal anecdote, making sure your words remain center stage.

6. The Generic “I Learned Teamwork” Group Project

Group projects, robotics competitions, Model UN conferences—these can be significant experiences. But many essays start and end with an obvious moral: “We achieved more by working together.”

• Example of a Clichéd Approach:“In my debate team, I realized that success depends on everyone contributing equally. Teamwork is vital in everything we do.”

• Why It’s Clichéd:While teamwork is important, this lesson can be found in countless essays. It lacks a “wow factor” or a unique perspective.

• How to Avoid or Refresh It:Delve into the interpersonal tensions, the behind-the-scenes struggles, or the nuanced leadership decisions. Highlight a specific conflict and how you resolved it, rather than issuing generic statements about camaraderie.

7. The “Miraculous Transformation” Conclusion

It’s tempting to present a neat resolution: you were lost, then you found an activity or mentor, and presto, you’re a completely changed person. The reality is that personal growth is seldom so instantaneous or tidy, and admissions readers see through forced epiphanies.

• Example of a Clichéd Approach:“I used to be shy, but ever since I joined the dance team for one semester, I am now the most outgoing person in the entire school.”

• Why It’s Clichéd:The transformation narrative sounds contrived, and the sudden switch from shy to outgoing is often too simplistic to be believable.

• How to Avoid or Refresh It:Emphasize the process, including any lingering insecurities or the ongoing nature of personal development. Instead of stating you’re “completely different,” show how small, meaningful steps led to growth over time.

8. The “I’m the Hero” Story

Some students recount a tale in which they serve as the star problem-solver or savior, neglecting the contributions of others or the complexity of the situation. This can come off as arrogant or lacking introspection.

• Example of a Clichéd Approach:“When our debate team was about to lose, I singlehandedly saved the argument by delivering the perfect rebuttal. I proved that I can do anything.”

• Why It’s Clichéd:A self-congratulatory tone rarely endears you to admissions officers. Everyone wants to show leadership, but portraying oneself as a lone hero can feel unrealistic and self-indulgent.

• How to Avoid or Refresh It:Show humility and collaboration. If you did have a decisive impact, highlight the contributions of teammates or mentors. Reflect on what you learned, not just on how impressive you might appear.

9. Recounting Every Achievement in Chronological Order

Some essays become a laundry list of extracurricular activities and awards, replicating the résumé that appears elsewhere in your application. This approach can feel impersonal and scattered.

• Example of a Clichéd Approach:“In ninth grade, I joined student government. In tenth grade, I led a fundraiser. In eleventh grade, I became vice president…”

• Why It’s Clichéd:Admissions officers already have your activities list. Repetitive summaries waste valuable essay space and show little reflective depth.

• How to Avoid or Refresh It:Zero in on a single involvement or award that challenged you or shaped your outlook. Share the emotional highs and lows, the specific moments that sparked growth. Leave the rest to your resume.

10. The Hyperbolic Grand Finale

Finally, be wary of ending your essay with an exaggerated statement about “changing the world” or “becoming the best.” While ambition is admirable, sweeping generalizations can ring hollow if they aren’t grounded in concrete detail.

• Example of a Clichéd Approach:“With my acceptance to your university, I will fulfill my destiny to revolutionize modern medicine and bring peace to humanity.”

• Why It’s Clichéd:It feels more like a marketing slogan than a sincere personal conclusion. Plus, it’s implausibly grand, diluting credibility.

• How to Avoid or Refresh It:Conclude by reflecting on the next step of your journey—perhaps the ways in which you’re excited to learn, contribute, or experiment further. Leave readers with a sense of forward momentum that’s aspirational but humble and believable.

The Bottom Line: Authenticity Over Formula

If there’s a single overarching theme that unites these clichés, it’s predictability. Applicants who rely on these well-worn narratives often fail to stand out in a crowded pool of submissions. The goal isn’t to avoid writing about sports, volunteer trips, personal loss, or academic interests altogether. Rather, it’s to approach these subjects with depth and a distinctive perspective—injecting personal anecdotes, nuanced reflections, and genuine self-awareness.

Ultimately, admissions officers or hiring managers read essays looking for authenticity. They want a glimpse of you—the real human behind the transcript or résumé. If you catch yourself using a phrase or storyline that you’ve seen in countless other essays, pause and ask: “Is there a more honest or original way to express this?” By diving into the specifics of your experience and articulating how it shaped you in a nuanced way, you can transform a potentially clichéd topic into a compelling, distinctive narrative.

In that transformation lies your chance to be remembered—to prove that your story, your insights, and your potential are worth a closer look.