I am beginning to write and brainstorm ideas for the common app questions, but I am having a VERY difficult time. I know I am an adequate writer (5 on AP Lang, 10 on old SAT Essay), and I have never struggled as much as I am on these prompts. I think that the biggest issue plaguing me is my indecisiveness. I came up with other topics, but I’m afraid they are all cliche. Do you have any suggestions for finding inspiration, or words of advice for which prompt to choose? Also what topics are overdone?
My ideas right now included something to do with:
Volunteering/Community service and Rotary involvement
Passion for justice (want to go on to law school)
What to avoid are the three dreaded D’s – drugs, divorce and depression.
Be authentic. Let them know how your passion for justice evolved (use examples) and how you foresee your passion may translate into some sort of legal future for you.
Most topics are fine as long as the essay is in your voice and tells the admission officers something meaningful about you that can’t be found elsewhere in the application.
I don’t think there are any topics to avoid. I think the main thing is you don’t want to sound cliché. My friend last year wrote her essay on divorce and it was AMAZING and she got into Harvard and Yale, but also about 10 other kids I know wrote about sports, divorce etc. and it was super repetitive and dry. Any topic works but its how you write about it that makes the difference!!
I don’t mean to state the obvious but there always seems to be that one kid that writes about sex…this is a no.
I wrote mine on community service as well and my friend cried when she read it and said it was the most relatable and compelling thing she has read in a long time so there’s that