Is it a bad thing to write about something common. For example if the prompt was write about a transition from childhood to adulthood, would it be a bad idea to write about something like getting a license. I think I could write a better essay about something common than trying hard to write about something really unique. Do colleges look more for you writing about something unique and different or writing a great , well thought out essay
What colleges are you applying to?
If you are applying to anything in the top 50, I would highly recommend that you write about something unique about you since these colleges get thousands of applications in a year. The goal of the essay is to help you stand out of the pool of applicants
Your instincts are correct. Stand out essays can be on any topic. It’s the treatment of the subject not the subject itself.
The question to ask yourself is ‘Could anyone else have written this essay?’ If the answer is no, then you’ve found a way to communicate your uniqueness. It’s not the topic and its uniqueness or lack thereof - it’s about you.