Have we overthought essays?

College Essays
1

<p>Well like the title says, I've recently written many essays, and many people have complimented them and then there's always the one person that makes me second guess myself and I go back through the ridiculous process all over again. I'm starting to believe that people on CC have been overhyping the idea of being "unique". I think that some people can use common topics and just write strongly about somethign cliche and still get accepted. If what is said is true, than 90% of essays are cliche, yet 10% of applicants don't go to school, so obviously someone is happy about these cliche essays.</p>

<p>What I want to know is do people feel that we have extended the idea of being "unique" TOO far. I mean look at the stereotypical ideas for essays thread, what CAN you write about according to that thread? I think that I'm going to stop listening to those cries of being too unique soon, especially considering that you only need to seriously impact someone with your essay for a REACH school, most matches are already content to accept you as long as you have written a decent essay I believe. Thoughts?</p>

2

<p>Uniqueness of topic is way overrated.</p>

<p>It is not the topic, it is what you do with the topic.</p>

<p>It is not the topic, it is what you do with the topic.</p>

<p>Virtually any topic can make for an excellent essay. Virtually any topic can make for a poor essay.</p>

<p>Aim for a topic that allows you to be personal, detailed, honest and revealing. A topic that works for someone else might not work for you. A topic that doesn't work for someone else might work for you.</p>

<p>If your essay is personal, detailed, honest and revealing, it won't matter how many other people have written on that topic. Your unique take, your unique personality will make for a good essay that helps you in the applications process.</p>

<p>For good essay advice from UVa, see:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/writingtheessay.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/writingtheessay.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

3

<p>I understand what you mean, but at the same time many schools like u miami (a school that's lm applying too) GIVE you questions to answer. In these instances some of them are rather mundane and average, and there are only so many ways that you can write about something like academic integrity.</p>

<p>I think its necessary for people to realize that with solid stats a well written cliche essay can still be effective in communicating that you are an intellectual person and not hurt you. Cc puts it like a unique essay is needed to get into schools, but honestly that's for schools who you are already a reach at and you NEED that extra bump direly. Otherwise I think a solid essay can't hurt you as much as people think. Essay readers change and what may be old to one could be inventive to the next, regardless of it being cliche. Human beings are, after all, basically the same.</p>

4

<p>
[quote]
Human beings are, after all, basically the same.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Human beings are not "basically the same", period. Human beings are both the same and unique. The same in some respects, unique in others. </p>

<p>An excellent essay will capture the uniqueness while describing and expressing what often may be a common human problem or situation.</p>

<p>I've read hundreds of essays on this forum. I've read interesting, imaginative, unique essays on most of the so-called "cliche" topics. In my opinion and experience, there are no "cliche" topics. There are only cliche treatments of topics that, in more imaginative, skillful hands, yield personal, detailed, honest, revealing, interesting essays.</p>

<p>The topic does not make cliche. The writer makes cliche.</p>

5

<p>It's easier to write a good, unique essay rather than a good cliche essay.
It is true that it is possible to write a good cliche essay, but a unique topic with an equal writing ability trumps the cliche.</p>

<p>Most CC'ers are not worried about getting into U Miami, hence the focus on unique essays.</p>

6

<p>
[quote]
good cliche essay

[/quote]
</p>

<p>This is a contradiction in terms.</p>

7

<p>how so? good cliche essay referring to a well-written essay on a cliche topic. well-written referring to the style used.</p>

8

<p>In my view, there is no such thing as a "cliche topic". </p>

<hr>

<p>Topics range from commonly used to unique.</p>

<p>Manner of treatment ranges from hackneyed, cliche to personal, revealing.</p>

<p>So in my view, speaking schematically, there are four categories:</p>

<p>commonly used topics treated in a cliche manner;
unique topics treated in a cliche manner;
commonly used topics treated in a personal manner;
unique topics treated in a personal manner.</p>

<p>The important thing in writing a college essay is the manner of treatment--to treat the topic in a personal, detailed, honest and revealing manner.</p>

<p>If a commonly used topic allows one to do that, one should write on that commonly used topic.</p>

<p>If a unique topic allows one to do that, one should write on that unique topic.</p>

<p>The best topic, or the set of good topics, for each person arises from his/her own personality and experience. That particular topic may turn out to be commonly used or it may turn out to be unique. That won't matter. What matters is the treatment of the topic. </p>

<p>Therefore, it is a great mistake imo to hunt "outside" for that supposed Holy Grail, the topic that no one has ever heard of. Rather, one should hunt inside for one's true self, one should reveal (aspects of) that true self by whatever topic allows for that. Since one's self is unique, such self-revelation will yield a unique essay.</p>

<p>A unique essay. That is the true Holy Grail, the prize that can be found by all who search carefully and thoughtfully inside, who write skillfully and imaginatively, who write what they truly live.</p>

9

<p>
[QUOTE]
It's easier to write a good, unique essay rather than a good cliche essay.
It is true that it is possible to write a good cliche essay, but a unique topic with an equal writing ability trumps the cliche.</p>

<p>Most CC'ers are not worried about getting into U Miami, hence the focus on unique essays.

[/QUOTE]
</p>

<p>Even schools such as USC or UNC CH or even U Mich have very similar and common essay questions. I can understand for the people applying to top ten schools, but what I wish to stress to everyone is that you don't have to have some insane essay for a school that isn't totally out of reach for you. Generally these are only the top 15 schools that really need these type of essays, and I think people who critique others up here often forget that. I see alot of times people say something like, "you can't write about x, y, z and this that and the other thing," but that's only because everyone applying to schools like harvard or princeton often share similar interests and ECs. Just a 2 cents for people who AREN'T trying to go to some insane schools to know that you don't need that.</p>

<p>Also:</p>

<p>
[QUOTE]
Human beings are not "basically the same", period. Human beings are both the same and unique. The same in some respects, unique in others.

[/QUOTE]
</p>

<p>I'm sure this sounded deep and philosophical at the time, but from an objective point people are the same. Breathe, eat, hydrate, survive reproduce. The other stuff in between (emotions, thoughts, etc etc) are just there to help pass time, in all people need only two things. To Survive and Replicate, that is your purpose, whether you choose to accept it or not. I'm not saying people can't be unique in a certain earthly sense (superficially, different mindsets, etc), but biologically we are all the same.</p>

10

<p>You proved ADad right when you said that we all have the instinct to survive and replicate, but also have everything in between from which we differentiate. Biologically, we are similar. Mentally, psychologically, really, we are so different.</p>

11

<p>Regardless, when presented a question like 'name a significant figure that has affected your life' its generally gonna be someone who has been in your life for quite some time, which is usually a family member. Things like that make alot of things maybe share similar topics but these things can't be helped. It's far easier when you are allowed to write your own essay question.</p>