Hey everyone, I'm currently working on my college essays and I'm really trying to make my application stand out. Does anyone have tips on what are the most cliché opening lines I should avoid in my college essays?
Absolutely, making sure your opening line is compelling and avoids clichés can definitely set your essay apart from the crowd. Here are a few cliché openings that I'd recommend steering clear from:
1. Starting with a definition from a dictionary. This has been overused and doesn't contribute to an enticing opener.
2. Beginning with a quote from a famous person. While sometimes it might seem relevant, quotes tend to detract from your personal voice which is what admissions officers want to hear.
3. Starting with "Ever since I was a child" or similar phrases that indicate long-standing ambitions. While it's not necessarily bad to discuss long-term interests, this particular opening line is fairly common.
4. Dramatic lines like "Little did I know, my life was about to change forever". This tends to feel somewhat generic and melodramatic.
5. Vague statements such as "Life is full of surprises". Your essay should be confined to your own personal experience and perspective, general statements often detract from this.
Instead, consider starting with an anecdote or specific moment that's significant to your theme, or a compelling image or fact about yourself that's specific to you. Keep in mind that the best opening lines will make the reader want to keep reading and will segue nicely into the main theme of your essay.
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