Hi all,
I wrote an essay where I talk about I am like a character with a tragic ending in a famous rhyme and I rewrite an ending that fits my story (if that makes sense) so that I can prove that I overcame my hardship (dealing with mom’s cancer). It would probably answer prompt #2 of the common app essay (The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?)
Would this be too cliche? My intro starts with “I am _… I am no character of pity… I am with a different ending”.
Any advice? I am a rising senior and I am really nervous about the application process.
Hi rocking star. It was great reading what your essay was about because I am also writing a essay along the same lines (where i find inspiration from a fictional character). I talked about this with a very experniced adult in the college admissions process and she she that it is a very unique way of writing (not cliche at all) and it would be turn out great as long as I tried to make the essay about me, not the fictional character, because the admissions officer want to know about me. So I would suggest that you mention the fictional character but you mention the character in a way where you describe how he/she has affected your life and made you a better person. It also helps if your book is not too famous or mainstream so it looks like you actually read books for inspiration and not just to write a college esssay. Hope this helps
One of my essays that I wrote last year had a similar feel/introduction. I think it can be really interesting to read. I do think you should run it by a counselor/ English teacher as stated above, but I do think it could add a layer to your essay and make it fun to read.