I've been reading a lot of college admissions essays lately and I feel compelled to mention one common mistake I've noticed.  I call it the "multi-topic combo meal."

When you are trying to show your thoughtfulness, creativity, and eloquence all in one essay, choosing a primary topic on which to focus can be difficult. As a result, many applicants don’t make this decision at all; they just lump together all of their thoughts on the topic like a stew made from incompatible leftovers.

The result is usually a fragmented essay of incomplete, incoherent arguments--in other words, a confusing jumble of unpalatable ideas.

Combat this problem by forcing yourself to make the tough decisions. If the question asks, for example, about something meaningful in your life, don’t write a 300-word essay that includes the birth of your baby brother, winning the state swimming meet, and attending your grandparents’ 50th wedding anniversary.

Each of these could be a solid topic, but combining all of them together would only detract from the weight of your words and the image or emotion you are striving to evoke.