1. Not proofreading!  Spell chick doesn't catch everything! (A second set of eyes would certainly pick up that typo.)

2. Trying to be someone you aren't.  Your application should reflect who you are... if you are funny, be funny; if you are contemplative, be deep.

3. Letting someone else have too much say in your essay.  The highest praise you can receive for your essay - "Your voice really comes through in this."  Much better than, "This essay sounds like it was written by a 45-year-old English teacher."

4. Not choosing the right teachers to write recommendations.  Choose teachers that can write about you as a person and as a learner, not necessarily those that gave you the highest grades.

5. The "why us" question.  Be specific!  They really want to know what you will bring to their campus. If you are finding one school’s name and replacing it with another, it is not specific enough.

6. Forgetting activities.  As early as your freshman year in high school, keep a list of what you are involved in and what awards you have won.  You will forget!

7. Not meeting deadlines.  Many colleges have priority deadlines to be considered for merit scholarships, honors programs, alumni interviews, and dual degree programs.  Be ready to go early!

8. Not visiting.  Gone are the days when you could apply and then go take a look.  Many colleges use demonstrated interest to gauge your enthusiasm for the college.  So visit!

9. Bragging too much or too little.  Be proud of what you have done and don't be afraid to tell them.  But also realize that you are most likely not the only student with similar experiences, so don't make a huge deal of something small.

10. Cute, but no intellectual firepower.  Writing a good essay is like painting a self-portrait... it takes time.  You need to brainstorm, play around with different angles, pay attention to the background as well as the subject, and you need to step back often and evaluate.  Many essays tell a good story, but remember, that they also need to show the admissions committee both how you write and how you think.