<p>So for one of my college essays (a common app prompt), I'm using a topic that's probably been written to death, and actually in my first sentence, I do address this.</p>
<p>However, the circumstances surrounding the topic are unique to my and my situation.</p>
<p>Don’t make any excuses. Just launch right in to it. If it is as unique as you say, they will not mind that they’ve encountered the topic before. One of my d’s essays was, obliquely, about the death of a friend, but the way she told her story, told the colleges a lot about her.</p>
<p>[Essays</a>, Admission Information, Undergraduate Admission, U.Va.](<a href=“http://www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/writingtheessay.html]Essays”>http://www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/writingtheessay.html)</p>
<p>Read and decide for yourself</p>
<p>A cliche essay doesn’t exactly hurt, but if your essay blends into the crowd, it will do little to help you. If you can still make it exceptional, then you should go with it.</p>
<p>
Please don’t. That seems a dreadfully boring introduction and a rather annoying thing to say. Open with an attention-grabber.</p>
<p>Absolutely. I wouldn’t even read beyond the first paragraph if it was along the lines of a cliche.</p>
<p>My daughter is considering writing about her grandfather ( still alive) who has always strongly encouraged a college education…he always tells her funny quotes. Also included will be how different her community is and how she was born to teenage parents…is this a cliche? It will be written in an unusual way, more poetic than technical. She submitted one essay already for a scholarship in which she talked about how dance has affected her life, given her strength etc… it was well written but I worry it was cliche.</p>
<p>I don’t think most of the people responding understand what the OP is asking. Cliche topics are not bad. Cliche essays are bad. Adcoms always emphasize that it really doesn’t matter what you write about but how.</p>
<p>As far as addressing it, I don’t know if it’s necessary. I think it can be done without hurting your chances, but adcoms will realize what is a common topic and what is not. If you have something unique to say about it, they will realize that too. If anything you might be wasting a bit of space. But it probably is not “dreadfully boring” or “rather annoying,” inherently.</p>
<p>Here’s my first paragraph, just to show you guys what I mean. “When times get tough, you must keep on fighting”. It is an overly used and clich</p>
<p>Also, I said earlier that my topic is to pick someone who influenced me, and describe that influence. A large portion or my essay is describing my person’s life, to show how it corresponds to that quote above, and as a strong lead in to the influence. Is that bad? The person is my father, so his background has affected my whole life…</p>
<p>Can I offer some advice? DO NOT start with that sentence. I know you mean well and I think you should write about your dad but it needs framed differently. How about opening with a visual? Like describing your father’s hands or face. Or describing a man going about his routine. Give great details that are symbolic of the strength of your father. Strength that is represented in strong hands or a wrinkled forehead. Idenitfy a characteristic unique to your father that from your point of view is symbolic of the strength and positive influence he has provided to you.</p>
<p>Even open with a past experience of his that left him vulnerable and how he overcame it… I hope this advice helps. I obviously am not aware of the intricacies of your relationship but there are so many unique ways to write about this. I agree with the person who said that it is how your present your essay more than than the topic.</p>
<p>good luck!!</p>