<p>Any topic can make for a great essay. Any topic.</p>
<p>It is not the topic, it is what you do with the topic.</p>
<p>See this link for advice from UVa on college essays:</p>
<p>That's a great link ADad, but that still doesn't change the fact that some essays are just overused by too many people. I am leaning towards saying no for this essay but a couple more opinions would be greatly appreciated. Do note that I am planning on applying to a bunch of Roman Catholic school. I'm not sure if it will help that I am religious or hurt that I am not Roman Catholic.</p>
<p>The more overused an essay topic is, the better yours will stand out from the others if it is an authentic expression of your own voice.</p>
<p>How overused is this topic: "I work well with people of other races/ethnic groups".</p>
<p>And yet, one of the five best essays I read last year, out of well over 100, was on just that topic. It was spectacular, and stood out even more because of the relative commonness of the topic.</p>
<p>How about this: "I would like to be a writer": the topic of another truly outstanding essay.</p>
<p>IMO: write what is genuine to you, authentic to you, your own voice, and forget about what everyone else may be writing about. </p>
<p>It is not the topic, it is what you do with the topic. </p>
<p>I have no idea if your proposed topic is sufficiently authentic for you or not. But that decision has nothing to do, IMO, with what other people are writing. </p>
<p>What AdComs want is your own voice, whatever the topic in which it expresses itself may be. If you feel that you proposed topic is cliche, then either: (1) you haven't probed the topic deeply enough, or (2) this is not a topic in which you can show your own voice.</p>
<p>You're applying to Catholic schools? And your Muslim? I don't think your essay will help you, and in fact hurt you.</p>
<p>I have nothing against people going to religious schools that they're not part of, but.........ugh...</p>
<p>I agree, to apply to a Christian university with a 'I am a devoted Muslim" essay - you must be insane.</p>
<p>Hey, I'm a muslim aswell (from saudi)
Anyway, yeah thats an interesting topic, but I honestly wouldn't write about it. I mean its better just to stay away from controversial topics. If it really did affect you, then by all means write about it, but make sure you dont present yourself as a muslim fanatic cause that would just screw up your chances. Good luck.</p>
<p>"A lot of essays is [sic] not what you write, but how you write it [sic]."
Well, I wrote about adversity...
The essay is what you make it. College admissions officers understand that there are only a limited number of topics out there. Just avoid sentimentality, as has already been advised...good luck!</p>
<p>Well, to whoever said that doing the muslim clubs, muslim fundraisers, helping out mosque, etc doesn't help . . I think it does.</p>
<p>I know this isn't always the case, but I'm just saying that . .
I know a kid (black) who got into Cornell with a 2.something GPA, 12 something SAT I, highest SAT II in us hist which was a 700, the rest lower, and not very good essays. However, he did find some diverse ethnic clubs, and his ECs DID evolve around muslim activities, he was treasurer of the MSA (muslim student association), etc . . . and maybe that just made it for him. </p>
<p>that's all I see anyway that he had that stood out.</p>
<p>I agree with ADad, I also know a <em>Muslim</em> girl attending a private christian college. It's kinda funny actually, her ID card has her on it with her headscarf and all, with "Connecting Christian Values with Education" at the top . .haha. but yeah, I really think that if this has affected you for the better, just write about it passionately.</p>