Did I ruin my chances with this essay topic for common app?

College Essays
1

<p>So my essay was about an important influence in my life. I wrote about my dad and how I was always trying to beat him at board games. The story focuses on the first time we played stratego and how that time basically reflects my personality (competitive, daring, and strategic) and how my dad brought out these qualities in me through playing him. </p>

<p>Is this an OK topic? Most other essays that I read focused on some important achievement or EC that the student was involved in. There is no reference to school or anything like that.</p>

<p>Im applying to mostly top 10 colleges, so do you think admissions people there would be turned off by such a topic? Thanks for any advice you can give me.</p>

2

<p>Funny, I was THIS close to writing the exact same essay (except about Scrabble). Ultimately it’s not about what you write, but how you wrote about it. As long as you wrote about whatever you are passionate about, you’ll be fine. Just keep in mind that elite schools will get tens of thousand of apps, and you want to have a essay that will make adcoms sit up and notice even in the wee hours of the night when they are reading over your application.</p>

3

<p>thanks for the advice</p>