Common Application Essay idea..

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
1

<p>I think I posted this in the wrong section sooooo</p>

<p>I have average grades/SAT compared to my schools, but I want to set myself apart with this essay. </p>

<p>Do you think it is an overused topic to write about death/hard-ships? I would relate it to living with my grandfather who has had Alzheimers for 12 years, my step-father that drowned while diving, and my aunt that died from Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS). I feel like I can write a lot about it. I'm just not sure if it will be looked at like, "O.. another kid talking about hard-times with death..." Know what I mean? Do you think I have a good topic?</p>

<p>Thank you for your help and responses.</p>

<p>P.S. If I decide on this, would anyone be willing to read it over for me later tonight?
thank you again.</p>

2

<p>just make sure the reader learns about you, and can see you are a good writer. sorry, can’t read it, am writing rec letters all weekend to meet the Nov 1 deadline.</p>

3

<p>Yes, it’s hackneyed. Unbelievably so.
I’d avoid it unless you’re a very good writer and confident you have something that strays far from the cliche.</p>

4

<p>It’s sad. Sorry. The issue is: which student to admit- the one who describes several hardships and how they affected him? Or, the one with some smaller but significant hurdle he worked to master, which taught him a valuable lesson, made him a better person who now somehow makes the world a better place- and will thrive at that college and go on to inspire others?
If you an work your idea into choice two here, fine.</p>

5

<p>lookingforward is right. Did all these sad occurences make you a better person somehow? The school wants to know who you are, not that things happened around you.</p>

6

<p>It’s a risk – not a bad risk, but a risk.</p>

<p>If you write a heartfelt essay about your experiences and, mostly, how YOU grew from them and what that says about you, then go for it. :)</p>

<p>On the other hand, if you begin stretching for words to say and the essay becomes cliche or badly written, it would really hurt.</p>

<p>I would suggest writing the essay AND a more mainstream one, and asking around to see which one people like best.</p>

<p>Good luck.^</p>

7

<p>thank you.
I changed my topic. If you could review it over for me through a PM, I would greatly appreciate it.</p>

8

<p>mgm7890 I would be happy to read it over! I am no expert but i will try by best to give you my opinion and input. I am trying to write my essay right now too, so I am curious as to what others are writing about.</p>

9

<p>I will PM it to you.
I would like to thank all of you that gave me ideas and responded.
If anyone else would like to review my essay I would appreciate it.</p>

<p>Thanks
~mgm</p>