<p>I'm starting to go through the common app and the supplements and I don't really like any of the essay topics. They all seem far too generic. I feel like I'm going to end up making my own topic wherever I'm given that option. Are there any downsides to this?</p>
<p>Also, how "formal" do the essays have to be? I'm starting to work on my UChicago essay and I have an idea that I've been waiting to write about for a while. It deals with the nature of reality and how my whole life has been about expressing the way I see the world, because I know I think a little "different". I don't want to give away my idea, but a big part of the essay is going to be about the downsides to following rules. Writing an essay about how I don't like rules might be a bad idea, but I'm not sure. Any insight on this?</p>
<p>There is absolutely no downside to choosing your own topic! It’s actually quite common. It shows creativity, also!</p>
<p>Essays and supplements are not supposed to be formal in the least. Write it in your own voice. Your essay should sound just like you talk. Don’t use a thesaurus to find words, and don’t try to impress the adcoms.</p>
<p>Best regards,
<p>Choosing your own essay topic may be the smart thing to do when it comes to the Common App. Your essay is supposed to be a personal statement and it lacks personality when you conform to a pre-determined standard. The only downside is if you go off on tangents. You have to have a strong theme and stick to that theme. It has to come across as creative and interesting to the admissions officer. This is NOT an essay as you would write for English class. This is creative writing. After you finish, have someone else read it and see if they find it captivating. If they get bored halfway through, so will the admissions officer. Finally, do not let teachers edit your essay. It’s okay for them to look for grammatical errors and such, but not to change your theme. </p>
<p>Bottom line: Keep it interesting to read throughout. If, when reading it, you get distracted halfway through, it’s not interesting enough.</p>
<p>Thank you. I had no idea if I was on the right track.</p>