Common app essay idea

<p>I came up with a topic, but I just want more opinions because I really want to get into Cornell and am really trying to excel at the essays (I don't really know if this would fit into option #5 or #6 because it is about my ethnic background, but I won't necessarily be talking about a specific experience). Anyway, I was thinking about writing about my Nigerian background and the dilemma I faced with trying to balance my Nigerian culture and the American culture. Especially when I was younger, I went to an all white school and I was the only African-American kid in the class. All I wanted to do was fit in, but it was very hard. The essay is basically going to be about my struggle growing up and trying to assimilate into the American culture and in the process forgetting about my Nigerian culture. In the end, my struggle taught me about how to accept and embrace all cultures and everyone from different backgrounds. So what do you think?</p>

<p>I don’t want to say it’s cliche (because I am very fortunate to never have had to experience what you’ve gone through), but it might be, unless you put in the effort to make it unique, through your own perspective and writing style. I say that because people try to fit in in all sorts of ways; that’s my main concern, that you’ll get lost in similar essays. Accepting other cultures may also be overplayed to some extent, but it really depends on how you’ve arrived at that point (i.e. not just visiting another country and becoming enlightened). How you ended up forgetting about your Nigerian culture is important, and should probably be one of the focuses of your essay.</p>

<p>I hope I don’t sound overly critical, as what you have to say is important - you just risk being just another “trying to fit in/accept everyone as they are” essay if you’re not careful. Best of luck. :)</p>

<p>I just want to echo TitoMorito here: if you talk about your experience, your essay will be cliche. You need to put some unique voice into it.</p>

<p>Also, don’t write any type of “sob story” or “woe is me, my life is awful, let me in” type essay. Your story sounds like it could be interesting without falling into these categories, but just wanted to warn you. Good luck!</p>

<p>DesireeA, I suggest telling a story that illuminates what you have described, rather than actually describing the situation itself for us.</p>

<p>For example, I had a student once who had parents from two very different ethnic and national backgrounds. She chose to talk about what a typical holiday meal was like at her house, with the very different foods from both cultures, and the extended family members from both countries yelling in their respective languages over one another. In one very funny moment, she explained that she was very careful to balance the foods from both cultures on her plate so as not to upset grandmas on either side!</p>

<p>Another student I worked with talked about his two passports (he has dual citizenship). In a beautiful conclusion, he described them lying side by side in his passport holder.</p>

<p>My final advice - stay away from “What I learned from this was…”</p>

<p>Good luck with your applications.</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice. That’s what I really needed was something to make it more unique and you guys gave some great tips.</p>