<p>Is it terribly cliche to write about the experience of holding my grandmother's hand as she died in the hospital? I've heard of the "dead grandmother" essays in which people talk about the death of a pet or relative, but I'm not sure what type of experience goes along with these essays. Also, I would either relate this experience to how I realized that being there for family is important or how I realized that living life/taking every opportunity is important to me because life could end at any moment. </p>
<p>I have another option, but I've started writing both and I feel more passionate about my grandmother (and my opening provides a detailed description of the scene as well as my emotions, I "show" not "tell"). I just wanted a few opinions on the matter. Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Basically, I think it will turn out well if you describe in it a unique, detailed way that focuses on description, not generic sentences that don’t add much. Remember that the essay should be something personal, something that only you would write, so it has the potential to turn out very nicely if you make it fresh enough - try to add your own personal touch or twist to it.</p>
<p>The lessons you said you would talk about drawing from the death are nice and all, and I’m sure the experienced mean a lot to you, but I feel like a lot of death essays would bring up that same theme of not taking life for granted. Maybe you could come up with something more personal and less grand, just because realizations like that don’t typically happen overnight in a way that’s life-altering. </p>
<p>Anyways, I think you can do a really good job with it as long as you approach it carefully. Best of luck!</p>
<p>The problem with death essays is that most students write the exact same one. Although your epiphany after her death is excellent for your own growth, I’ve personally read about a dozen essays of that EXACT same thing. It can be a great essay, but you have to think about what would be considered redundant for an essay reader. There is only so much sympathy/empathy that can go around.</p>
<p>Try to see this as adcoms will. Will your topic show how you are the right admit for this college? Does it show some of the personal qualities and strengths that will allow you to thrive, academically and socially, at this college?</p>
<p>Someone on this forum once stated, “There are no cliche topics, just cliche ways to approach a topic.” so I think that if you feel you can write a stellar essay with that topic, then you should go for it</p>
<p>I’m with looking forward. You’re trying to convince them you’ll really add to campus life. I’m not sure that what you took out of a family death, unless it was something truly unusual, will do that.</p>
<p>You can make any topic work as long as you are creative and relate it to yourself. That being said, I would generally avoid writing about death in your essays</p>
<p>i am also writing about the death of my grandma. Initially, I was afraid that admission officers will just flag it as another “dead grandma” essay. After I wrote it, I ask my teacher what she thought. She said that I stop talking about my grandma at the right time. About 1 paragraph. </p>
<p>My essay discussed her death and disease, the impact it had on me both immediately and over the long run, then how I used this motivation to create an fundraiser in my community and the skills that I learned from it, finally I tied it all together. </p>
<p>So i would recommend that you don’t talk about your grandma for more than a paragraph nd then focus on specific ways it impacted you because colleges want to know about you and not your grandma. I know it’s hard because you want everyone to know how close you were but unfortunately colleges don’t care about that.</p>
<p>“…how I used this motivation to create an fundraiser in my community and the skills that I learned from it, finally I tied it all together.” </p>
<p>Simone has the right idea. A successful essay on a tough personal topic still needs to show you in the best light for the college admisisons process. And, btw, “show not tell” only means vivid descriptions in literary writing. Good luck.</p>