<p>For the essays, is there any way that I could write in or tie in my Dad's struggle to come to this country? He risked his life by escaping from Romania, while it was a communist nation and under a dictator, and he spent a year and a half in Europe trying to find a way to America and he finally did. When he came here, he only had $24 to his name and a 16 lb. suitcase. Now he makes enough here to live and has given me the opportunity to get a better education and life, since he did not even finish high school in Romania. But overall his story is crazy, people who hear it tell him he should write a book. One part I distinctly remember is him being caught by the Germans and being taken out into the woods in the middle of the night and having a gun put to the back of his head.</p>
<p>Or I could just write about one of my biggest passions, football. I think the former idea would be a lot more effective, but that's more about my Dad than me, so I don't know if I can do that. Input/feedback?</p>
<p>your dad’s struggle is great and will catch attention.
but make sure u link it back to YOU
the essay should be show how it influenced u etc (your thoughts, character)
maybe you have some of your dad’s courage?
foot is too comon</p>
<p>That is a FANTASTIC idea for a college essay. Like the people above me though, I agree that you must link it back to you. Has having an immigrant father made you feel pride? How has it affected your worldview?</p>
<p>Those are just some questions you want to keep in mind while writing. It is an exciting and memorable topic that will certainly perk up the admissions people, but you must remember to make the essay about you. I’d spend one or two paragraphs detailing your father’s story, and then perhaps spend the rest of your essay on how you’ve used your father’s past as a reminder of what you came from and to not take advantage of what he has given to you. I realize that this may not be how you feel, but even if it isn’t, the people reading it don’t.</p>