Admissions officers read a lot of essays and it's unavoidable that many say much the same things -- people applying to similar programs often have similar motives, after all.
That's understandable, but according to Geoffrey Cook, founder of EssayEdge.com, "don't offer your point in such a cliched, prepackaged way as to make your reader cringe. For example, you shouldn't start your essay, 'I have always wanted to be a doctor' or 'I've always known that medicine was my calling.' Better to describe early experiences and then let your interest unfold naturally."
Focus on writing clearly. You want to impress admissions officers with what you have to say and how clearly you communicate it. Even when applying for a literature program, elaborate writing is likely to do more harm than good.
Anyone can open a thesaurus; short, direct and to-the-point sentences are more effective.
By the same token, says Petersons.com, "Don't use a gimmicky style or format when writing your personal statement. Your 'clever' or 'original' idea for style probably isn't, and it may not be appreciated."
Vague generalities such as, "I learned the value of hard work," are little more than meaningless cliches. Write instead about what you worked hard on and what it accomplished.
At the same time, don't provide irrelevant or redundant details. Stay on point and don't meander.
Especially when applying for Ph.D. programs where attention to detail is important -- such as medicine and other hard sciences -- typos and spelling errors can hurt you. They're also avoidable. Don't simply rely on a spell checker; have a friend look through the final draft of your statement.