<p>My common app essay talks a bit about my grandfather and how I really got to know him, but it's not a "he's had an amazing influence on me" essay. It's actually more about one of my ECs, and how that strengthened our previously nonexistent relationship. Is this too cliche? I don't want to go cliche, but it isn't answering the influence question and it's not about how amazing he is. I just use our relationship as a mechanism for discussing something else and emphasizing its importance.</p>
<p>if you are paying attention to not write it in a cliche-way, you’ll do fine
as long as you can make it really personal, the topic does not matter much
an essay can be original in its style, tone, etc.</p>
<p>just stay away from cliche expressions</p>
<p>Personally, I think an essay about how a common interest helped create a relationship where it didn’t previously exist would be a fantastic essay subject because it is so applicable to what you’re heading into in college. The fact that it’s your own grandfather you didn’t have a relationship with makes it more poignant, since there’s an assumed relationship there. There will be lots of essays written about grandfathers who had an influence, and yours will stand out among them by its contrast.</p>
<p>A cliche topic can certainly be spun into something original. Veer away from the sob story and keep it about you and your interests and you have a very viable topic.</p>
<p>I don’t think a topic can be cliched as long as you write it correctly. My topic is cliche-ish but has a few of my own spins to it and everyone who has read it has LOVED it. So as long as you write it well and genuinely you should be fine :)</p>