Please comment on my topics

College Essays
1

<p>I have a few ideas for my college essay. I want to use one for my Common App essay and a few others for supplements. Some of them might sound a bit cliched though, but I’d like to know what others think of them. Please tell me whether you think these topics would make good essays and which one I should use for Common App:</p>

<li><p>My own chemistry lab: I started doing experiments and teaching myself chemistry before I had my first proper chemistry teacher. I plan on majoring in biochemistry</p></li>
<li><p>My love for opera, how it shapes my life and views: it’s my biggest passion. I started enjoying it when I was young, and it played a great role in shaping my personality</p></li>
<li><p>My definition of courage and how it evolved through the years: moving from a childish view to a mature understanding as I experience failure and meet people who change my views</p></li>
<li><p>Being the only girl to win the National Science Olympiad: I’ve always been trying things that are normally done by boys and refusing to accept that boys can always do better than girls in some areas</p></li>
<li><p>Trying to fit into a new environment: I moved to South Africa a few years ago and tried hard to fit in, but now I’ve learned to appreciate the extreme diversity that surrounds me. I think it can reflect my unique cultural background. Another version of this is how I combine my Chinese heritage with my South African experience (with emphasis on the South African part)</p></li>
<li><p>My relationship with others, especially friends: how I tried to cheer up a boy I met at a camp. He replied with a very touching letter about how my acts of kindness had made a difference. I’d also include how my sincerity allowed me to be accepted by people who originally viewed me as an “alien”</p></li>
<li><p>Giving 120% of myself to everything I do: according to my friends, this is my most prominent characteristic</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Write whichever you can put an original twist on. All these topics have been done before, but which one can you write most refreshingly?</p>

3

<p>I actually prefer numbers 1, 2 and 5. My chemistry lab is a unique one since I built it myself from scratch, but would writing about something like that make me appear too academic and not involved in other things?
As for no. 5, I can put more into it, such as my struggles, realisation that I’m not alone, and my newly acquired identity.
What kind of topics are easy to put an original twist on? Maybe how I founded clubs at school? How I tortured myself at Maths Camp thinking that I’m dumber than everyone else? Learning to dance with my African friends? Or even my rather annoying habit of collecting every small object that can evoke memories?</p>

4

<p>my vote is for either 2, 4, or 5. you;ve got some really great options here. i think those are the 3 most original topics. gl :)</p>

5

<p>Thanks guys. Anymore suggestions? Take a look at my other ideas in the post above.</p>

6

<p>4 can be interesting as long as you don’t get too tangled up in the web…do you get me?</p>

7

<p>So 4 seems like a good one. But tangled up in the web…sorry I actually didn’t get you</p>

8

<p>See if you do 4, be careful that you don’t tangentially rant on about The Great Gender Divide and a lot of other things like that which don’t really speak too much about you.</p>

9

<p>Nope I won’t do that. Thanks.</p>

10

<p>Sure, anytime</p>

11

<p>It’s not the topic, it’s what you do with the topic. </p>

<p>Choose whichever topic allows you to write the most personal, detailed, honest and revealing essay.</p>