Help me choose a topic! Por favor!?

College Essays
1

<p>OK so I'm talking about the Common App...
Prompt #5. A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you. </p>

<p>I have 2 ideas for this and I've kind of started essays for both because i think i will use both on some application or another. I'm just wondering which one I should choose for this. I'm applying to only east/west coast schools with the common app. So here are my ideas:
1. Growing up in Iowa and how I can bring a different perspective
2. Teaching swim lessons and how it has taught me to respect intellectual diversity, and how people think differently.
I have started both and have some very raw writing so I could PM both the beginnings if anyone is interested......</p>

2

<p>im liking the second one a bit better.. but go with ur gut</p>

3

<p>i like the 2nd one better. but then again it depends what you would write for the 1st one. just the topic sounds...well..blah...but if you made it really creative it could work.</p>

4

<p>I think that either one could work well if you wrote them in a creative manner that emphasizes your uniqueness as a person. The first one might be a bit hard to do that with, though, because many people who come from Iowa may have shared your experiences growing up. So like the two posters before me, I would tend to go with the second idea (since I think it might be easier to write).</p>

<p>If you want me to critique either one don't hesitate to give me a PM
Good luck!</p>

5

<p>The second one is definitely better. The first one sounds more like you are anticipating what the adcom wants (diversity), generally a transparent effort.</p>

6

<p>I am also putting in a vote for the second option. The first doesn't strike me as a unique perspective, although you could probably spin it that way -- but there are other people out there coming from Iowa. I don't know what your full vision is for that one, but I think the second has more potential.</p>