<p>I'm new to the application process itself and was wondering if you guys can help me. I really have no idea what essay topic to choose because I feel many people choose something cliche. Some of the topics seem so random that I don't know if it will be a good topic to show myself. I kind of thought about it and here are some topics, but please feel free to criticize and add suggestions. I would really appreciate it. </p>
<ol>
<li>my ethnicity (Asian) and being a "banana"</li>
<li>my role model - grandfather and how he shaped my life</li>
<li>my passion for medicine and healthcare </li>
<li>base my essay on a specific picture (like the one from Stanford)</li>
<li>how i find peace/thoughts on airplanes/airports</li>
<li>what would be me if I lived in the 1920's with Gatsby</li>
<li>how New World Symphony by Dvor</li>
</ol>
<p>The essay is all you. Whatever has had the greatest impact on your life should be the topic. For mine it will probably be the recession and how its hurt my family and me, but awakened my human desire to perserve throught it</p>
<p>I know this is all you, so it’s really going to come down to what you personally think you could write best, but I LOVE your topic ideas for 5 and 8, I think they’ve got great potential. Really, all the ideas have potential, but 5 and 8 have less risk of being cliche, I think.</p>
<p>Thanks for the comment above. Because they say your topic can be about ANYTHING, it is EXTREMELY broad and quite scary for me, since I don’t know what is appropriate.</p>
<p>I probably suggest you to stay away from number 8, cuz what if it doesnt really shock the adcoms? Then it wont have any impact.
Leaning to the airplanes though…cuz it gives impression of a thoughtful, mature, calm teenager. Or so i thought. :D</p>
<p>I’m starting my essays too (class of '11!), and I’m writing it on what one of my extracurricular experiences (teaching piano theory to little kids) taught me.</p>
<p>However, if you can make your #1 (being Asian in America v. being too Asian v. being not Asian enough v. being yourself) essay intriguing and not bland or common (I’m an Asian who plays violin and piano and tennis and is in math and science club…pity me…etc), it could turn your “anti-hook” (being Asian) into something unique you can bring to the school’s community.</p>
<p>number 7 is the riskiest but i personally think has the most potential- it would make you stand out, for sure. how has dvorak influenced you? (although, i may be biased because i love dvorak)</p>
<p>Choose whichever topic allows you to write your most personal, detailed and revealing essay: the essay that is so you that no one else could write it.</p>
<p>Total strangers are not likely to know you well enough to say which topic allows you to write that essay.</p>
<p>In addition, it’s not about what you write about, it’s about how you write about it.</p>
<p>Personally, I think #5 does sound intriguing, but ONLY write about it if you think you can do a good job with it. I also agree with superhamster–if you can turn your Asian-ness (I happen to be like superhamster as well, with the violin and science and tennis and everything) into a good thing, all the more power to you. :)</p>
<p>Go with what you think will allow you to write your best essay. It doesn’t matter if the topic is cliche or not; the only thing that matters is how you write it.</p>