I brainstormed a couple of ideas but someone told me they were a bit cliche, so now I have no idea what to and what not to do.
Am I just supposed to show that I’m passionate about something, or somehow relate passion into any of the essays I’m writing?
Anyone have any tips?
@sushipanda - Perhaps this will help. I’ve always referred to it when talking about essays
https://www.mhrd.org/cms/lib/NJ01000236/Centricity/Domain/407/McEssay_Article_WORD.pdf
This is second hand advice, but a colleague told me that “Essays That Worked,” by Curry and Kasbar was one of the most influential books he has ever read with regard to personal essays. I think you can buy a copy on Amazon for $2. Maybe give it a look.
I like the link @Melissa96 posted. You have to write about something that is unique to you, or at least let your uniqueness show through your writing voice.
Think about the Why ___ ? Essays. (Why come to Duke) or whatever school.
You can’t have Why essay where you can just substitute another colleges name, like Mad Libs.
For example:
I love UMiami because I love to be in the south. There are so many research opportunities, and I love the school spirit! Go Canes!
It would be very easy to substitute Duke or UF in for UM.
(I’m now realizing this analogy is pretty bad, but I’ll still post it. Good advice below it :)) )
Those essays where people just say stuff like I said about UM being in the south, etc… they are the opposite of unique.
So are generic essays about volunteering somewhere.
If you want to write about your volunteer service, you HAVE to write it in a unique way, not sounding like a robot.
Or you can write about something random, like your car. Or your cat.
Whatever you write, make sure it lets the school learn something about you, and make sure there is some kind of conflict (either internal or external) in your narrative. They can learn something about you in three ways (there may be more; these are just a few I thought of)
I plan to do all 3 in my essay (I’m a rising senior in a couple weeks 
).
But, I may leave out #2, because it can feel out of place and ruin the prose.
Good luck!
did they say what the prompts will be next year? I know they did “what is thre good life?” up until like the yeasr or two before me.
@herosaurus17 I’m assuming they’re going to keep the prompts the same. They’re using the Common App and they have standardized prompts, I think.
Oh ok. This is the first year with the common app so I’m not sure…All I know is with the common app, like 50% of people do the essay around an outside activity so try to be creative…Mine for the common app was about lessons learned and it worked out well
UF is using the Coalition App, not the Common App. Same basic idea and very similar essay prompts, but different organization.
Avoid the "D"s: Death, divorce, depression…