Choosing Essay Topics

<p>A few of the schools that I am applying to request two essays of a topic of my choice, so I'll likely be writing two essays to submit to said schools, one of which being one that I reuse for all applications.</p>

<p>I'm stuck between what course of action to take. I know that I need to write two essays, and in either one or both of them, I'd like to focus on the effect living and being raised by my white, manic depressive, and bipolar mother, having to live under an emotionally abusive stepfather for almost 8 years (and having to deal with subsequent social problems), having to grow up without a biological father (for the reason that he was in jail) or even a real male figure in my life, and me being the only biracial black member of a once-bigoted, lower-class, white family without any guidance from another black figure or relative (no contact with that side of the family) has had on me and how I've overcome said challenges to excel academically. Would you suggest splitting this information into two/more different categories and writing an essay for each topic, or would you suggest trying to consolidate it all into one topic and find another topic for my second essay?</p>

<p>I thought of consolidating the above information into an "autobiographical" sort of thing, but if I did that, I would have no clue what to write for my second essay.</p>

<p>EDIT: I'd also like to implement my passion for computer science somewhere; however, I'm not quite sure if you make some sort of connection in the more autobiographical essay or to give it an entire topic of its own.</p>

<p>I’m not quite sure if I should make*</p>

<p>or if I should give it an entire topic of its own*</p>

<p>I’ve read that autobiography-type essays are frowned upon, now that I’ve searched a bit more. Please lend me your guidance, my wise acquaintances of College Confidential!</p>

<p>I had an epiphany today in which it occurred to me how to go about this. Thank you to those of you that actually spent time to read and consider my plea!</p>