I was thinking of writing my supplemental essay on either a) my childhood spent in the hospital and how I survived with the help of imaginary friends or b) my coming out as gay (or lack thereof), but I’ve read all the articles on how essays about eating a hotdog or planting watermelons were shoe-ins for yale, and I’m worried that the essay will be cliche or “forgettable”. Thoughts?
I don’t think the topics you described are “cliche”, and in general I think execution matters a lot more than the specific topic. That said, if you go with your first topic (your childhood spent in the hospital and how you survived with the help of imaginary friends), I’d make sure you end up tying the essay in to who you are now as a person. Admission officers want to know who you are now, so make sure that the essay clearly shows how that experience has influenced who you are now as a person / what current positive character qualities it led to.
Of the 2, I think the first is more unique.
Could you speak briefly of those imaginary childhood friends, then somehow have them grow up? Not sure where I’m going with this, but it would be interesting to read.
The essay won’t sound cliche unless you make it so. Just be yourself and write many, many drafts until you reach one you like best.
In other words, just try writing both and pick the one you like better. You still have ample time before all of this is due.
Ask yourself if these topics are relevant to a college admissions review. Do they show adcoms what they need to learn about you today, to get excited about your app?