<p>Most people say that in order to stand out, your essay not only needs to be well-written, but also "unique," meaning that you have written about something that most people don't write about.</p>
<p>For example, many cliche topics that people often write about include:
-Grandma/mom/sister/brother/friend who died of cancer/AIDS/malaria/whatever
-Sports hero story (omgg I scored a goal! and we won! omgomgomg)
-My dad/mom is my role model because they were immigrants from country X and lived a hard life
-This really famous scientist/writer is my role model because I want to be like them
-I went to a poor country and it changed me forever
-I helped out a retarded/gay/foreign friend
-I loveeeee math/science/sports/music
-I won this prestigious competition. Brag brag brag brag brag...</p>
<p>But honestly, if you don't write about any of the above what else is there really to write about? A lot of people say to write about something totally random (ie. grass is a metaphor for life, real men listen to Taylor Swift)</p>
<p>What are some topics that you feel are cliche?
Seniors, what did you write about?</p>
<p>But is it really better to just write about something totally random like that?</p>
<p>It seems that everything that would have been good to write about–a real tearjerker or something inspirational–has been overdone wayyyyy too much</p>
<p>ummm…I tried to find a point ofd connection with the college so they knew that not only could I not send the essay to someone else, but that I was definitely interested in their college. It took more time but…it worked out really well. That aside, i just picked things that were important to me. like thunderfox said, DON’T be fake. These people get really good at telling fakes.</p>
<p>I think all the topics you listed are reasonably good, as long as you come off as personal. What I’ve heard is this essay is terrible:</p>
<p>“I spent two weeks in Haiti/Jamaica/Inner City/Random African Nation and it totally changed my view of the world! They were all so poor and, when I looked into so and so’s eyes, I saw their pain and [insert big words here].”</p>
<p>The reason behind that being that its pretty shallow. I think they’re just looking for something that makes them like you. Even if that means you write a cliche topic, as long as its written in a way that makes you personable, you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>For Harvard, I wrote about quitting and subsequently rejoining the school orchestra. My second optional essay was about how much I love fashion (which was apparently the one that stood out, because it was mentioned on that ‘handwritten note’ that acceptees got, haha). I thought that the first might be fairly cliche considering that there must’ve been at least 23409234 Asian girls applying to Harvard who played in orchestra … but it was an important turning point in my life, so I figured admissions would find it at least mildly interesting. And I’m known for wearing some really crazy outfits, so that was something that defined me as an individual and not another face in the crowd. I can’t confess to knowing myself very well, but those two topics were as close as I could get to trying to give admissions a sense of who I was - which I think is the most important thing you can do.</p>
<p>I never did it, but I imagine a good way to find essay topics is to ask people around you what really stands out about you, or to think about what you’re ‘known for’ in your school and community. You’ll find that you probably have many unique essay topics in you that you’d never considered.</p>
<p>(I also wrote about taking pictures of dirty toilets in China for my UPenn essay. And I was accepted! Sometimes it’s worth taking a risk, haha.)</p>
<p>I agree, cliche essay topics are not beneficial for an applicant. Admission officers are people, too. They’re not just working zombies! They have probably read thousands or even hundreds of thousands of essays that were all the same: death in the family, overcome an obstacle, won something, helping out someone, travelling, etc.</p>
<p>I’m a junior right now, but when I’m applying for colleges next year, I’ll be sure to write an interesting essay that really represents who I am as a person. It won’t be cliche, that’s for sure!</p>
<p>Just write about what you love and who you are. For the common app, I wrote about my first leading role in a musical and how it changed me as a person. My second essay for Harvard was about my father and how he inspires me. Although both of these essay topics are somewhat common, I put a personal twist on them. Make your essay unique, but don’t try so hard to find a “unique” topic. If you’re true to yourself in choosing the topic and your voice comes through in the essay, it will be a successful one. Best of luck!</p>
<p>My essays were terribly strange, curt, and, in short, off-putting. Kind of like me.</p>
<p>The Harvard Supplemental essay I wrote was actually a modified journal entry I wrote at the age of 14; I simply tweaked it a bit to make it a letter written from Sturmun D. Rang to mirror some of my more personal attributes. </p>
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<p>Agreed. I chose not to do an essay with a “typical” topic because I don’t express those types of things well, but they can and do work out just fine for some.</p>
<p>My essay was about my low-income neighborhood and how it inspires me to succeed.
My supplemental essay was about a summer research program and how it changed my views on diversity and science.</p>
<p>write about something normal. something that shaped you, or gives an insight into your life. having an amazing experience like those listed above is not unique. again I emphasize… write about yourself! not what you’ve done.</p>
<p>be true to yourself, I wrote about how taking HL IB Maths changed me, and how, despite not being any kind of math genius, I struggled to do the best I could! It was really a challenge, I swear</p>
<p>My Common App essay was about how much I love writing, written in my personal, somewhat strange style, and it probably helped me stand out. It’s certainly not a new topic, but it was written 100% in my own voice. Nothing fake, no lessons learned, none of that saying what it seems like they want to hear.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I also submitted an optional essay (which was my original Common App one) that was predominately fake, detailed lessons learned, and heavily included things that I thought they would want to hear.</p>
<p>Soooo, who knows. I thought my optional essay was ridiculously trite, overdone, and typical, so I went with the other one for my main essay… But my optional essay also made me sound less intellectual and more nice, so I ended up including it as well. Was I accepted despite my optional essay’s fakeness, or was I accepted thanks to its portrayal of me in a different light? Who knows?</p>
<p>Regardless, I agree with Judill. Don’t struggle to find a unique topic; just write a unique essay that definitely represents you.</p>
<p>I struggled for a long time with my essay because I was obviously trying to avoid a ‘cliche’. I took my college counselor’s advice and wrote about when my dad left my family (little more complicated than that, but you get the picture. Also, my English teacher who went/worked at Harvard and proofread my essay said to make sure if you write about someone else or your relationship with them you have to work really hard to make sure it reflects YOU and its not just about them)</p>
<p>However, what I found really interesting was that when I had my interview (with a Harvard Admissions officer) she said she really liked my essay blah, blah, blah BUT she literally loved the part where I talked about lazy summer nights playing cops and robbers with my brothers and sisters (you know, the neighborhood game? its like man hunt, or relievio? haha, I don’t know if other people played those games but the kids in my neighborhood did all the time) She went on and on about it and how her sons played and how normal and interesting it was that I wrote about it.</p>
<p>So I guess moral of the story is it doesn’t need to be a super touching, fascinating essay, just something you care about, which could be something boring like playing games with your younger siblings.</p>
<p>I honestly think you can write about anything you want- just write it well. Make your voice comes through- I can’t say for adcoms, but I know I’d much rather read an amazingly written essay about your foreign parents than a mediocre one written about some creative and/or obscure topic. And no, 10-letter words scattered 4 times throughout a sentence does not qualify as “voice.”</p>
<p>Like many have said, be sincere. Sincerity and genuineness in your essay, conveying a sense of you, is the most important thing. It doesn’t matter if the topic isn’t that original. As long as you shine through as you in it, it’ll be a good college essay.</p>
Good luck!</p>