Essay ideas?

For common app i wanted to talk about how my mothers cancer made me grow up and whip into shape (transfer from child to adult prompt). I’m not trying to get sympathy but i was wondering if the cancer thing is overdone and sounds whiny. Thank you!

It is overdone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t write a meaningful and unique essay on it, as long as you keep your writing specific and authentic, and avoid general statements like, “This experience taught me perseverance.” Go deeper than that.

Right-- it has to be YOUR story, not a story that could apply to anyone else.

Best wishes for mom–how’s she doing?

Right. so i want to talk about how it made me have to step up and take care of my brother and how hanging around in a hospital made me interested in medicine. unique enough?

Ehhh, maybe not as much as you would think.

Give me (via PM if you want) or them, one smaller example. Tell me of one particular day with your brother and why it stands out so much in your memory. Or one particular day with mom that made you want this NOT to happen to someone else.

I don’t need much in the way of what was happening, more in the way of how you reacted to it and how you will be a better doctor someday as a result.