<p>I'm about to start on my Common Application essays for UNC-Chapel Hill and UNCW for an issue of national/state/local importance that's significant to me, but I really don't want to be too unoriginal... </p>
<p>Should I look for issues that are more important, like poverty? I could easily write about poverty because of the work I've done with my church, but I feel like that's something that admissions people see way too much. </p>
<p>Then again, if I write about an issue that's more unique but less important to the world, would that be frowned upon? I could just as easily write about a true personal interest, like the NBA lockout, but I get the feeling that admissions offices wouldn't take me seriously if I wrote about that.</p>
<p>Either way, I'm pretty sure that I can write a pretty strong essay for both topics, but I just want to see what types of issues admissions committees are looking for with that question.</p>
I read that colleges groan at people who go for the “big things.” Now probably isn’t the time to write about your desire to stop world hunger. You should also steer clear of highly debatable issues, like abortion or gay marriage. I have an entire book on winning college essays, and what I’ve found is that the college admissions office likes to read things that are fresh and original.</p>