<p>The title pretty much says it all. This is in regards to the first prompt for the "your choice" essay. </p>
<p>I have another potential person that I could write about, but I feel as though I have a good bit to say about how my dad influenced and has inspired me. I am just worried that choosing a parent for this essay topic is very mainstream and may bore the ad coms. Is it okay to write about this "common" topic if the essay is well-written and brings in some not-so-common support?</p>
<p>Thank you for your help! </p>
<p>And good luck to everyone that is applying!</p>
<p>It is fine to write about parents, but make sure that you are showing the adcoms why YOU are great, not your parents. It is hard to write a good personal essay that acheives this goal when you are writing about the influence of others on you. </p>
<p>Of course, do what you want. If you think your idea will show the adcoms why you are great, then go for it. Just be careful with it. Hopefully you can get it done early enough so that some friends/ teachers can look over it and give you feedback. Good luck!</p>
<p>MOREthanLUCK, thank you so much for your feedback.</p>
<p>I have a decent first draft written and plan to show it to my teacher tomorrow. I think I was able to make it focus on why I’m great because the ways in which my dad influenced/inspired me didn’t have to do with how he was great. But, of course, it’s hard to tell the quality based on this description.</p>
<p>But again, thank you! </p>
<p>And if anyone else has any input, that would be great!</p>
<p>I don’t think there’s anything wrong with writing about a parent as long as it stands out. The subject matter really isn’t all that important, it’s what you do with it that counts. If you write a trite or clich</p>
<p>If your parents inspire you, then go for it! It is very common for young people to say that their parents had a major impact on them, so make sure that you are unique. When I attended a Yale information session (Yes, I know you are applying for Princeton) he told us that it isn’t the subject of the essay that counts. It is the depth of your writing and analysis. They have probably read essays on every topic imaginable, so I wouldn’t focus on originality; the substance is all that counts. This admissions officer talked about an essay he liked in particular: some kid had written about a large rock that he had passed on the way to school every day. That isn’t necessarily a thrilling topic, but that student made it work.</p>
<p>Of course, take everything I say with reservations. I still haven’t been accepted, so I am far from an expert about these things. My “hero” essay was about my cat, after all.</p>