<p>My son's CA essay is about his years of practicing baseball with his Dad on summer nights. He is not a recruited athlete, nor will he play in college at all, but he loves this essay and the sense it conveys of this time in his life and the lessons he learned from it. My concern is that sports-themed essays are overdone (according to CC) and while this essay hopes to say more about him, it still centers on sport as relationship builder/life lesson. He has other experiences he could write about (some national level ECs) but this essay grew out of a creative one that does read well. Thoughts? Thanks so much.</p>
<p>I am far from an expert (one kid graduated college in May and one is a high school senior applying now), but I am a professional writer and my view is that if this is a well-written, creative and thoughtful essay that gives the admissions committee/adcom insight into your son’s personality and who he is, well, then he has met his objective. I assume that the application itself will take care of informing the colleges about those national level ECs just fine, and the essay will, instead, help them focus on him as an individual. I think it sounds like a lovely essay.</p>
<p>OP–DS had similar concerns when one person (maybe his GC?) said sports essays have been overdone. However, some wonderful comments on another thread that I started calmed us both down. One was that everything has been written about a kajillion times so get over it. Another was that my (and your) son’s essay is not really about sports at all, is it? Several people said the only thing they’d shy away from is a “how I won the big game” essay.</p>
<p>If it’s an interesting, well-written essay that reveals something about your son, I’d definitely say go with it. (Especially if it’s done! I’m jealous!!)</p>
<p>As long as it isn’t about "winning the big game’ and it is well written it will be fine. I think the national level EC’s is just as overdone as “winning the big game”.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much! Puts my mind at ease. ( I knew I would get more response on this wonderful Parents page than on Coll. Admissions!). DS is juggling several supplements right now so the thought of changing his CA essay was daunting to say the least. Boy will this be a happier family one week from today!!</p>