Avoid Sounding Arrogant in Your Admission Essay

One mistake that can easily be committed when writing the admission essay is to come off to the reader as arrogant, boastful, or insensitive. Whether intentional or unintentional, arrogant or insensitive admission

essays are red flags to admissions committees. For this reason, it’s extremely important that you take careful consideration when writing your essay, so that you can ensure that you highlight positive aspects, instead of negative aspects such as self-righteousness or hubris. Here are some tips to help you write a good admission essay that steers clear of sounding arrogant or insensitive:

Avoid self-gratifying or self-glorifying comments

It is essential that you avoid any types of comments that can be thought of as self-glorifying or self-gratifying. For example, try not to write things like, I did a great job, or my actions show my kindness. The important thing to remember is that you need to focus on writing in a manner that makes your reader realize your achievements and the great things about you, without you having to say such things directly. In other words, remember that the admissions committee will be judging your character, so let them do their job and you do yours by telling them your story.

Avoid brash or antagonistic comments

To avoid coming off as insensitive, try to avoid making any comments that may be perceived as derogatory, belittling, or insulting in any way. The best way to avoid these types of comments is to ensure that you focus on positive aspects. Even when you write about negative experiences, try to center your essay on the good side of the story, such as things that you have learned or how you have changed for the better, making you better prepared to face future life challenges.