5 common app essay mistakes to stop doing, like, yesterday

I don't mean to scare you... but my guess is you're probably making one of these in your essay. The good news is that I'm here to 1) tell you what you're doing wrong and more importantly, 2) how to fix it!
0:00 Intro
0:45 Mistake 1
1:36 Mistake 2
2:36 Mistake 3
4:41 Mistake 4
6:00 Mistake 5
#commonapp #commonapplication #collegeadmissions #ivyleague #yale #yaleuniversity
#howtogetintotheivyleague #elevatedschool #kevinzhen #kevinzhensei #jeffreyyu #collegeessay #collegeessaytips #collegeessayhack #applyingtocollege #collegeapps #collegeapplications
ABOUT US
Hi! We're Kevin and Jeffrey, two Yalies who want to help you get into your dream school!
About Kevin Zhen: Exeter '16, Yale '20 (East Asian Studies)
Since 2016, Kevin has personally helped more than 50+ students gain acceptances into every Ivy League University, as well as top tech schools such as Stanford and Georgia Tech. He also loves teaching creative nonfiction, flash fiction and poetry. In total, his students have won more than 120+ Scholastic Writing awards.
About Jeffrey Yu: Yale '23 (Computer Science and East Asian Studies)
Jeff is a senior at Yale double majoring in Computer Science and East Asian Studies with a concentration on China. His college admissions essay was featured in the New York Times, and he specializes in essay writing, college admissions strategy, and life coaching. He has served as a Student Ambassador to the Yale Admissions Office, written extensively about college admissions on Quora and has taught courses on motivation, passion, and leadership while sponsored by the US Embassy in Tokyo.
LINKS
Website ► www.elevated.school
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[@elevatedschool]

From now until August 2024, I (Kevin) will offering doing FREE intro calls with students (and parents!) Visit: linktr.ee/elevatedschool Thank you watching our videos! Your support seriously means the world to us!!

[@kylemccormick3450]

I am genuinely happy to finally watch a college essay video that shares real, meat-and-potatoes advice, and not just vague, generic advice like "Be your authentic self". Thank you so much! I really appreciate your videos! 👍

[@elevatedschool]

Wow, thank you! Glad you found this helpful Kyle!

[@elevatedschool]

Hi friends!! For the next month (until 11/1/23), we’ll be selecting 3 of the commenters on THIS video for a FREE essay review! To qualify, all you have to do is like and reply to this comment with something you learned from this video :) FYI normally, we charge $225 for a professional common app review with feedback from two of our ElevatEd consultants!

[@passionateeditsandtutorial5638]

It was great to learn about how to transition from the problem to solution when doing that type of essay, since it is hard to know how to do it effectively. I really appreciate your content, it is so helpful, and will definitely recommend to others going through this application time as well!

[@wendygeng1365]

i realized that a lot of my shifts in topic are too abrupt, espcially from my problem to solution. i will definitely be on the lookout for this in future edits of my common app, and it's something i don't think would have been obvious without this video :)

[@anjaliguitaristpenguin9578]

This video made me realize my essay was a bit too much of a resume dump that would work better as a supplemental

[@ivanpaiewonsky]

I had the Eureka problem in my essay ngl, but the fact that you mention it in this video, just made me go through the draft and work on it. Thank you so much

[@jessicanguyen-tran]

I have learned that you should avoid writing cliche statements in your essay as they can weaken and make your message sound boring

[@justjosh188]

huge help i’m going to rewatch this when i am actually at my computer with essay

[@muhammadmustafotojimamatov1172]

Thank you. Impeccable timing, as always

[@nabhaf2796]

Thank you for sharing these infos Kevin ❤ I've been watching your videos lately and it has motivates me to start working on my essay 🎉

[@ovidiugangalic7163]

Happy birthday🎉, having a double problem solution really sounds very nice. The 5th Tip about cliche solutions is really hard to write along thanks a lot for the video

[@mariarmanu2112]

Hello, Kevin! I am an international student who has been struggling to navigate this whole process of putting together the common app essay, but your videos definitely helped me the most. From this video I learned about the problem-solution ratio as well as the upgraded strategy of double problem template. The advice regarding the conclusion was also one of the most helpful tips I have gotten so far, all you said about steering away from cliches and not repeating yourself (which, I admit, I have previously done)

[@thatUni-guy]

Thank you, for the video ...I'm happy to just fall for one mistake ...working on my second draft

[@orlehmann-6177]

Hi Kevin!! I'm an international student and I've been struggling to put together my Common App essay, but your videos are SO helpful!. This particular video really helped me understand the problem I had with the eureka problem and the problem-solution ratio. Your advice on how to end the essay was really helpful as well and I will definitely implant it in my essay. I would love to hear your input and take on my essay! I'm pretty proud of how it turned out but given the fact I have no one to help me with my application (it's not very common to apply to US universities where I live), it would be extremely helpful if you could take a look at my essay

[@samisubedi8606]

My essay journey has been a disaster, to say the least. I just discovered your channel and this video has made me realize the fault with my problem-solution essay. But it would be a huge relief for me to get help from a professional like you. Thanks!

[@ceydakara5256]

I really need to stop packing everything into my writing, this video made me edit my essay so much, thank you!

[@chirmidetha4939]

Hey buddy, I now know what is wrong in my essay. Two days ago, I thought it was the best essay ever written but your advice helps me to see things through your eyes as a reader that I can't myself look. It helped me a lot .I have made genuine changes adhering to the Problem : Solution ratio. I believe even if earlier my essay was not selected, now with your video guides I have made it a lot better. Thank you so much for helping us. What you are doing to us in these stressful times is worth appreciation. May you always soar high buddy. All my best wishes to you.

[@ArshroopSaini]

Happy Birthday Kevin! Thank you so much for your informative videos!!

[@elevatedschool]

Thank YOU!

[@arnavsinha5190]

Happy birthday!!! Also Ty so much for the videos!! you honestly have the most useful college app content out there 🙌🙌

[@elevatedschool]

Thank you so much!! You just made my day!

[@chemicalmilkshake]

Happy Birthday, Kevin! Also, thank you for everything you do, these videos have been so helpful during the college admissions process. 💖

[@elevatedschool]

Glad you like them!!

[@zhaniyakinbayeva]

Thank you! So informative!

[@elevatedschool]

You're so welcome!

[@user-tv3tp7xo6z]

Happy Birthday！🎉

[@MarkStarr177]

Such a great video

[@AdityaNarayanMB]

Thanks soo much for this Kevin. I have been working on the second draft for my essay, and this video really highlighted what I was doing wrong. Great video😁😁

[@elevatedschool]

Glad it was helpful!!

[@izzatillousmonov5126]

Hey, I think we can help each other. I need a partner on this. What do you say?

[@user-kh7ef4ho4d]

Family, personal growth NOT crowning achievement, vulnerability you overcame, 1/3 on problem, 40%-half on solution, 20-30% reflection, focus on impact and contribution

[@ngwuemeka1838]

The last problem on cliche endings . Thank you for touching on it, but it’s still really hard for me to change the ending of mine.

[@elevatedschool]

Hi everyone! In the two years since we started this channel, we've helped more than 70+ students get into every single Ivy League School, Stanford, MIT and more! If you're interested in working with us, please visit our website: www.elevated.school/getstarted. And if you'd like your essay edited by a member of our team, visit www.elevated.school/editmyessay . Also, please note that we do take on exceptional low-income students every year, so if you identify as part of that group and would like a scholarship, let us know! I hope you found this video helpful and are having a wonderful day 😇

[@Science_explained]

Would you consider international students for the scholarship?😀

[@user-qs2kc1uw7x]

The moves are crazy

[@Nati_YK]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY🎉🎉🎉Thank you very much. Your videos have been very helpful. This is really nice content. One question tho... Do you guys edit college essays for free?

[@arthurzhao6678]

AHH best advice ever!

[@akueiyuangmachotgarang.7801]

Happy Birthday in advance.

[@ilyazmamadaliyev2893]

Great Thank you

[@abbostuychiev]

Thank you so much🥹

[@elevatedschool]

Any time!

[@koolkid728]

thanks for the eureka fix! whew.

[@VivianLin-mp8jh]

Not me watching this 3 hours before it’s due 😭😭😭.

[@petrsotola9717]

Great video! I thought of a question while watching this. Do you think it's a good thing to write about foreign exchange, even though it is an activity? I originally wanted to, but now I'm not so sure.

[@imanear6560]

Thank you sm

[@elevatedschool]

No problem!!

[@Hanae_chg]

thanksssss

[@itsybitsy8385]

the sign language here is giving>>

[@elevatedschool]

Link to Costco essay! www.businessinsider.com/high-school-senior-who-got-into-5-ivy-league-schools-shares-her-admissions-essay-2016-4

[@pramishakarki2579]

Hey kevin! I really wanna write about my interest in kneading dough but not sure if i really should. So can u give me some insights to it? Would be really helpful!!!

[@bs.music.kyi9]

I know recitals are a cliche, but would it fall in the same category if I talk about an experience I had at a jazz club/gig? Im a senior whos also a working musician for context.

[@shrustimehta8948]

Can I write about an app that I built in my commonapp essay?

[@elevatedschool]

Hi everyone! It's been 3 years since we started this KZbin channel + launched this agency to help kids get into colleges. So far, we've helped more than 70+ students from all across the world and every background imaginable get into every single Ivy League School, Stanford, MIT and more! If you'd like your essay reviewed by us, just visit our website! www.elevated.school/editmyessay

[@julianikolai]

Highlighting experiences that are unique to you, and which have shaped you, make for good common app essay topics

[@shellyanderson337]

Hi thanks for your video. I don’t see the link to the Costco essay. Could you please reply with it?

[@elevatedschool]

Here it is! www.businessinsider.com/high-school-senior-who-got-into-5-ivy-league-schools-shares-her-admissions-essay-2016-4

[@JamshidXudoyberdiyev280]

Is overcoming laziness a cliche topic?

[@elevatedschool]

yes... but it depends on how you overcame this laziness/procrastination! If you have a really creative approach, it can still work!

[@AhanaAMajeed]

If you've lead a pretty regular life...is it okay to write about a fake incident that shows my( best and/or my worst) qualities?

[@elevatedschool]

I would not recommend or advise writing about fake incidents - in fact, even if you get in, this could be cause for the admissions office rescinding their offer

[@AhanaAMajeed]

Thank you so much, I'll keep that in mind

[@user-yj1yp2tt2p]

I need your help on my essay please

[@elevatedschool]

Please visit our website! www.elevated.school/editmyessay

[@inlierinsaan5077]

Applying this nov , anyone interested in over viewing my essay? I will do the same for you too

[@linabourouha644]

never break dance again, or at least don't show us :) much love