Hi guys,
I’m trying to come up with a good essay topic, and most of the ones that I came up with seem like they would be really common topics.
What topics have you came up with?
It would depend on the caliber of the schools you are applying to.
Cliche topics to avoid include:
Community service “enlightenment”: “I am so blessed and made me realize the horrible condition of the [people you helped]”
Immigration adaptation: “I was stuck between the culture of my parents and the American culture…Now I realize I can uniquely combine the two!”
Your role model - your parents: “My parents left [country] with just clothes on their backs, and made me who I am today”
etc
What if I were to write about the lack of funding for art programs in our school district, and how my 9th grade service project raised money for that? And how about for UPenn
That could be good. More than describing the actual project, though, you want to explain things like: What do you think the benefit of art programs is? Why do you personally love art? How has art shaped you as a person, and what did you learn about art / yourself through doing your service project?
Yeah, I was going to tie it back in to my love for art. I am an artist as well 
Thanks for responding!!