<p>Feel free to add to the list.</p>
<p>A few topics to avoid writing about are:
- scoring the winning touchdown, goal, or basket
- volunteering in a third world country that made you grow as a person
- divorced parents
- laundry list of accomplishments
- death of family pet
- talking about a famous person's quote
- climbing the mountain or hiking metaphor
- writing about not know what to write about
- deep philosophical questions
- a world issue that doesn't really relate to the applicant
- criticism of the application process
- struggling and then to "suddenly realize" something about yourself
- immigrating to America
- confessions of past crimes
- politics/religion</p>
<p>anything sexual or violent
drugs and alcohol</p>
<p>I think an alternative title for this thread could just as appropriately have been “The most common topics to write about for your college essay”. ;)</p>
<p>Some of the ones mentioned are common topics. As for some of the others, I would hope people don’t write about those topics. Confession of past crimes reflects negatively on the applicant, discussion of politics or religion might offend the person that may offer you admission, the list goes on. Just be sane and think through what you’re writing about it. Try to see it from the eyes of an admissions officer. Better yet, ask someone at school that you don’t know well to read it and tell you what they think of you just based on that essay.</p>
<p>@themorningsky I love it! So true.</p>