<p>Hi, I wanted to seek some input from individuals who aren't my family and teachers. For my common app essay, I am considering using the "Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you" response choice. If I were to write an essay discussing environmental damages of mining and how I want to make a career of solving these problems, would that be too clich</p>
<p>No topic is cliche! If you are passionate about that issue than go for it. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.</p>
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<li>Mike</li>
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<p>Thanks! I was just concerned that the current climate focusing on going green would impact my essay. I’m trying to show what I love and how this impacted my world.</p>
<p>I’ll offer a different perspective. The adcoms want to learn more about you, glean something about your personal qualities, how you face up to a challenge, your resiliance, etc. Some idea if you are the sort of kid they like at that college. This is not about flexing your intellectual or policy muscle or defending your interests.</p>
<p>It is very difficult for a hs kid to tackle this prompt well and show adcoms what they really need to see. If you want to write about (prompt 1) your struggle to convince folks, some experience that proved to be a turning point, fine. Remember, it’s not like a usual hs paper, where you pick a stand, state a thesis, describe and defend. </p>
<p>On the CA, an early question asks about your future plans- this could go there, in brief and well stated and modest.</p>
<p>Any topic is fine, provided you essay is PERSONAL and WELL WRITTEN.</p>
<p>Mining is a major interest to you, you’ve seen the adverse effects up close, you are going to change that. That’s cliche - now enough about that.</p>
<p>Now write about how many men in your town have died before the age of 60, how many friends you’ve had who are fatherless, the toll mining has taken on your family and neighbors, and how notwithstanding that toll, the economic blow your town would face if mining were eliminated. What would your town do without mining?</p>
<p>Describe the weathered faces of the few men in your town who survived thirty years of mining, what their breathing sounds like, etc.</p>
<p>Hope that helps.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone, I’ve just been sitting here trying to narrow down what I would write about. I’m new to the application process so I’m trying to prevent being overwhelmed by essays. Thanks for pointing out some of the possible flaws in this topic!</p>
<p>MLD, it’s not an exposition. Some colleges require a writing sample- and, yes, this topic would be heartfelt and probably powerful. But a great CA “personal statement” weaves a tale that shows the sort of kid you are- resiliant, resourceful, maybe how you tackle something (unexpected or chosen) and evolve for the better, in tangible ways. It can show your interests, but it’s not about those interests, it’s about you. </p>
<p>OP, you can show them the courage of your convictions, show how you got involved, chose your battles, grew- a line or two about the inspiration- but make sure that, in the end, adcoms are better informed about you and your qualities, not “the issue.” And, “show, not tell.”</p>
<p>In the end, it is your choice. Best of luck.</p>