Students applying to college often worry about whether they have enough AP and honors courses, a sufficiently impressive grade-point average and competitive test scores. They obsess over every word on application essays and agonize about which teacher to ask for a recommendation letter. But despite efforts to present the perfect application, students can end up sabotaging their applications because of poor judgment.

Perhaps it’s because the stakes seem so high and they are so desperate to get into a favorite school, but the stress of the college admission process seems to lead some students to do things that are really not in their best interest.

Sending eight recommendations when a college asks for two will likely annoy admissions officers who already have too much to read. In addition, you are communicating that you can’t follow directions, can’t count or have so little confidence in your application that you have to try to pump it up with as many letters as possible.

The same thing can happen with application essays. If a college asks for 500 words and you write 1,500 words, don’t expect the admissions officer who’s been reading applications for nine hours that day to feel kindly toward you.

Calling or e-mailing your admissions officer every week to let her know how much you want to attend the college is also not the way to demonstrate interest in the school. Desperation is no more appealing in a prospective student than it is in a potential date.

Applying to college is like applying for a job in many ways. Any questions about judgment or integrity can mean the end of your application. You may be tempted to exaggerate or even lie about your accomplishments, but it’s best to present yourself honestly.

If an application raises some question or concern, someone will investigate. If a student claims to have won an award or performed community service for an organization that doesn’t sound familiar, the admissions office may Google that award or organization.

In order to be taken seriously, you need to communicate in a professional manner. That means no texting an admissions officer as if she’s your BFF. An e-mail address that seems funny to a student could be offensive to an adult. While interviews are not usually a major factor in college admission decisions, you don’t want to be remembered for getting (and even worse, taking) four phone calls during the meeting.

Of course, students aren’t the only ones who can sink a college application. Parents who call and ask questions that should come from the student aren’t doing their child any favor. You don’t want admissions officers wondering if the student really wants to attend the college or is ready to live away from home.

A parent who pretends to be the student on the phone may help that student be remembered, but not in a good way. Then there are the parents who insist on going into the interview and speaking for the student.

Annoying an admissions officer might not lead to a denial, but if you’re applying to selective colleges, you don’t want to stand out for negative reasons. A student’s judgment and maturity can factor into admission decisions, so make sure your actions are communicating the most positive message about you.

Audrey Kahane, MS, MFA, is a private college admissions counselor in West Hills. She can be reached at (818) 704-7545 or audrey@audreykahane.com.