Common App Essay Ideas?

<p>I've read over the new prompts and so far I don't have many ideas. I was wondering if any of these were worth writing or if College Admissions would see them as weak.</p>

<p>For the prompt about overcoming failures I was thinking about writing about how I tried out for the Volleyball team and Soccer team my freshman year and got cut in both. It was a terrible feeling. But from those failures i realized that I was meant to run! Now i run cross country and track and even made it to States. </p>

<p>Or i could write about how i failed my drivers test the first time when i was so sure i would pass it. It really surprised me and it was a letdown. But i learned that you shouldnt take things for granted and you have to work hard and practice.</p>

<p>From the prompt about transitioning from childhood to adulthood I was thinking about writing about my quinceanera since I'm hispanic. a quinceanera is literally an event that marks the beginning of woman's adulthood. i could even mix in some details about my heritage and stuff like that.</p>

<p>What do you think? please help!!!</p>

<p>In my opinion, I think they are all pretty cliche. (No offense :p)
I mean they could still work if you put enough effort into distinguishing your experience from others, but I think you should do the first one, and write up a personal experience that is unique to you and only you, to make you stand out.</p>

<p>What exactly do you mean by doing the first one? And how do I make them not so cliche? I just can’t think of any other ideas right now. I wish the prompts were a not more significant to myself</p>

<p>The driving test one is the only semi-unique one in my opinion. Try and emphasise how it’s humbled you (don’t make excessive excuses as to why you failed), and play up those DMV stereotypes in the intro for humor. </p>

<p>I, too, failed my first driving test last year… Danged backwards driving!</p>

<p>In my opinion, the driving test one is the LEAST unique. Of the three ideas, that’s the one that 90% of all applicants will have gone through or will go through.</p>

<p>Is me being Hispanic America not unique enough or something? Would it be bad to write about that? I think it could apply to the personal identity prompt because its so central to who I am</p>

<p>I like the idea of writing about your Quinceanera–tons of apps that reflect on one’s ethnic background are successful. The only problem is that tons of other Hispanics also had a quinceanera so you have to be sure to also narrow it down from the giant scope of your Hispanic background to your personal background and how it specifically affected you as an individual. Avoid saying too much cliche stuff that any Hispanic could say.</p>

<p>Honestly they all seem quite bland and cliche to me. Think outside of the box, or focus on a certain part of one of those that no one else would think of.</p>

<p>Well while obviously a majority of college applicants took the driving test, it’s unlikely they’ll write their essays about it. Still a stale topic however. The ethnicity stuff adcoms either eat up or have seen it already.</p>

<p>The first one as in a story where it is unique to only you. Ask yourself what defines you and think of a story to prove it</p>

<p>The fact that you’re Hispanic and if you’re applying to competitive schools, already gives you a small advantage. I like the first topic better, even though it might be “cliche,” but it seems more fun and interesting then the literal sense of the quinceanera or the common driving failure.</p>