Essay topic

Hey! I just had an idea, but I’m here way too early. I want some feedback though. My grandmother was a German refugee from World War I who wanted for her entire life to be an American. I wanted to write about how her experiences helped me realize that I wanted to become a politician. She had dementia at the end, but one thing that she held on to was her love for our beautiful country. She passed away in December of 2016 (right before high school), and her appreciation for America and what it had to offer made me realize that I wanted to help lead our country and make our American society the best it could be. Would this be too tacky?

@ab2002 be sure to tie it back to yourself very clearly and perhaps make the part about your grandma succinct. After all, schools are looking to admit you - not your grandma.

I think this would be a great essay— for your grandmother.

But it doesn’t tell us anything about YOU. Keep in mind; the point behind the essay isn’t to showcase your writing skills. It’s to give the reader the opportunity to get to know YOU better-- and you only have 550 words in which to do it.

I would strongly reconsider.

This sounds like a great essay for the right prompt! A lot of colleges ask about role models and people who have inspired you, and you have a very strong narrative for that. Just be sure to connect her experiences to yourself, as that’s what the admissions board is looking forward. Try to demonstrate your own drive and how you want to live up to her example. Anyways, I hope this helps. Good luck on your applications!