A feature that many applicants and parents seem to forget is that when colleges ask you to “be yourself” and completely “authentic” in your personal statements, it’s a double edged sword.
Yes, they want to see the sparkling version of you --if it’s there. But just as important, they want to know if the school bully or entitled jerk or closet bigot or the forced achiever due to parental pressure are applying as well. They want to know this so as to keep that kid AWAY from your kid. If that kid is you or your kid, then you’re out of luck.
It’s akin to meeting your kid’s BF or GF for the first time. All smiles and pleasantries. You really want to get to now the person’s natural state however, right? Same thing with colleges.