<p>Okay...I am applying to about ten school through the common application including Cornell, Brown, Vanderbilt, etc. I have written an essay this is quite good, but I really do not think it is anything special...that sets me apart. I have started an essay about my past experiences with my alcoholic father that died in August. It talks about adversity and overcoming adversity to come out a stronger person. I really liked this essay staring out, as I was able to take a topic that is probably overused and make it original, but then I found myself stuck and unable to go anywhere with the essay at a certain point. </p>
<p>I found a letter that I started to write to my father last year that is quite well-written and really shows who I am, and what my strengths are. It is not finished and was probably never going to be sent to my father anyway, but now that he has passed away, I feel that I can finish the letter, and possibly submit it as my essay. Basically, the letter talked about my resentment for my father, and discussed how much he has taught me through his mistakes. It mentions my future plans and aspirations, and really shows quite a raw version of myself, completely stripping away any cheesiness that could be found in a college essay.</p>
<p>Please tell me if you think that it would be too risky to submit with my common application. I really think that it is creative and would be noticed by admissions officers, but I'm not sure that it is fully appropriate. Please let me know what you think!! </p>
<p>Thank you all so much for your input. I have been thinking about it constantly since the idea struck, sometime in the wee hours of this morning, and I have decided to go for it. I really appreciate the input, and I wish you all luck. I'll probably be back to post pieces of it here for opinions and such.</p>
<p>My college essay was very similar. I wrote a kind of twist on the most influential person/immigrant-American Dream story where I wrote an essay about my father's educational success and how he came to America yet failed because of alcoholism and other poor choices. My essay was focused on how my father's experience influenced my life path and values. </p>
<p>The only high level college I applied to was Northwestern, and I got in (and currently attend there). I'd like to think my essay was a deciding factor since compared to other northwestern students my GPA, SATs, and Extracurricular were not nearly as nerdish as the common Wildcat's. So of course, I say go for it</p>