<p>Anyone have any ideas of what the more trite college essays are? I'm stumped: I can't think of a single one that isn't cliche to one degree or another.</p>
<p>I'm facing the same problem. I can't think of a single topic that isn't run-of-the-mill.</p>
<p>"How My Trip To Africa Changed My Life"
"My Favorite Pet"
"Tuesdays With Morrie: Why I Love This Book"
"How I Plan To Solve World Hunger"</p>
<p>"Why I Love _________ University"
"Why I Care About The World, Children, and Puppies"
"I Grew SOOO Much From _________"</p>
<p>Do a research paper on the difference between muffins and cupcakes without icing</p>
<p>No... write a research paper on "The Harmful Effects Of Verb Tense On Parametric Equations".</p>
<p>or one that is titled "How Dogs Came To Become Enemies With Cats"</p>
<p>so I'm guessing something like "My plans for world dominance" would be too cliche? What if it just talks about mere continent conquering (one must be modest)?</p>
<p>:</p>
<p>"My speech in front of the Nobel committee, or how I happened to win third Nobel Prize for peace in 2027"</p>
<p>
[quote]
What if it just talks about mere continent conquering (one must be modest)?
[/quote]
i'm sorry, but colleges don't want someone with such a narrow vision in life. you'll be better off herding cows. :)</p>
<p>Very few topics are literally and utterly unique, untouched by humans' pencils. But a good writer can shed new light on even the tritest topic, and in the process shed light on him/herself.</p>
<p>So don't be troubled if your topic is not literally unique. If you write well, the combination of the topic with your personal voice and experience will make for a distinctive, and perhaps even unique, essay.</p>
<p>I'm under the impression that Ivy Leagues and other top-tier colleges accept applicants who have mediocre essays (with on-par qualifications). Are essays more of a confirmation of any preconception they may have about an applicant? For example, an applicant who comes from an underprivledged, urban school can write about his/her experiences of any significant disadvantage and how he/she overcame them, etc. Content-wise: it's nothing new. Style: it can be creative. However, adcoms will look at the list of EC's, awards, etc. first to get the general feel of the applicant and the essay basically supports that image. It feels like there's no other way that adcoms can do it (or if there is, it may be similar to this way). I mean, almost everything seems very cliche. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>The process is somewhat mysterious and nobody really knows for sure how it works besides the adcoms.</p>
<p>But I got the impression that in the absolute top schools, like HYPSM, brilliant essays (and standout EC contributions) are what will get you accepted. At these schools, an otherwise acceptable application might get turned down if it comes attached to a mediocre essay.</p>
<p>I think it's more important for your essay to be good than to be original. I think a sincere and well-written, if a little cliched, essay will go further than a gimmicky one. At our age, our best attributes are our naivete than our inventiveness.</p>
<p>Would "Work hard, play hard" be a cliche topic?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Would "Work hard, play hard" be a cliche topic?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>The most cliche topic ever.......</p>
<p>and ppl when u write over a topic remeber that the colleges like topics that have a bit of an experiance (real or factual/imaginatory). The topics shud not just be unique.......</p>
<p>It shud say somehing abt you also....... </p>
<p>Like may be the most common essay topic made trite wud be:</p>
<p>"An experience that changed me or had gr8 influence on me"</p>
<p>But well there is a subtopic involved here too....... u can write abt anything ....till it shows the positive side of ur personality and what impact the thing had....like the guy in harvard wrote abt how being in the restroom for quite some time daily with his idiosyncratic thoughts helped him understand the intricasies of life</p>
<p>So be on the lookout for orginal thought not necessarily unique one......
I can hardly imagine an essay on " How the local restaurant prepares ur fav dish " to hav any impact on adcomm for the sheer irrelevance</p>
<p>Sometimes one can write on the most cliche topic and yet in a style of writing and grammer that is highly unique and refreshing .......</p>
<p>I wud love to comment on anything pertaining to essays ....coz i love writing them.........</p>
<p>U CAN WRITE ON MY FAVOURITE PET (CLICHE TOPIC) and then describe why a Marine rare-one-of a kind Octopus who came in your dreams last night has become one.</p>
<p>Two most important features: topic should "liberate you" to speak authentically about something meaningful to you in concrete specific terms and essay should have a consistent and interesting "voice". It's good if someone who knows you could read it anonymously and then guess it was you because it "sounds just like you" --but you at your best and most interesting, charming, unique or humorous self.</p>
<p>So if verbs and math are your thing, then write about "My Summer Research on the Harmful Effects of Verb Tense on Parametric Equations."</p>
<p>you can take the most basic thing and turn it into something interesting. a girl who wrote an amazing essay last year wrote it about and ethical dilemna she had while sitting in her room trying to think of a college essay. it was really, really good.</p>