<p>is it all about your voice? I have some fairly unique topics, but I know that they are in no way completely new and ground breaking. I'm just very fearful of having a cliche essay when applying to schools who seriously consider it in terms of admittance. help</p>
<p>Keep the tone informal, but always polite.</p>
<p>If you’re talking about your entire essay being cliche, then it’s your voice. If you’re talking about using cliches in your essay, then voice won’t help that.</p>
<p>Don’t use phrases or figurative language that you’ve heard before. You might not have any experiences that are far off from the norm, but you can convey your dance recital(or walk around the block, etc.) in a way that no one ever has before. This isn’t about coming up with a cool topic. It’s about excellence in every sentence.</p>
<p>overthinking an essay and losing your voice in order to impress will backfire.</p>
<p>General Rules:</p>
<p>-Use the space well, don’t rehash your EC’s or community service (most applications will ask you to elaborate on one EC in a short answer)
-try to stay away from:
"How my summer trip/camp to Equador changed my perception of the world
“How I lost the big game but learned a big lesson”
“my Grandmother my inspiration”</p>
<p>These CAN be done well, but with sooooo many applicants writing similar essays, why start off with an all too common topic</p>
<p>-I’m a believer (many are not) in NOT straying from provacative topics like politics and religion. BUUUUT unfortunately with the increase in events like Va Tech and the NYU suicides, I encourage my clients to stay away from topics of personal mental illness even if overcome. Seems risky to me to submit an essay about overcoming a “cutting” habit as intersting as it might be (and inspirational). Admissions reps are under pressure to red flag troubled students, and the essay is their main source for this volunteered information</p>
<p>use humor, and use it well.</p>
<p>I agree with fuzzyfirebunny. </p>
<p>My own essay is lighthearted, whimsical and a little absurd. I don’t think I’d have it any other way.</p>
<p>My advice is to make it personal. For my essay to Wash U, I wrote about overcoming a hard ship I endured when I was little (to be more specific so it makes more sense, sexual abuse). At first I was totally nervous to submit it because it was one of the most “raw” things I’d ever written. When I met with my interviewers (there were 3), they told me it was one of the best essays they’d ever read, one of the reasons being because it wasn’t typical and cliche. So don’t be afraid to mix it up.</p>
<p>If you do write something personal, don’t make it too theater. Keep it natural, honest, and real…that’s what people want to read. If you choose the humor route, don’t try too hard.</p>
<p>First of all, do not use cliches AT ALL. If you are concerned that your topic is too trite, think again. It’s really all about your writing, not the topic. One of the best ways to make it yours is to add an anecdote.</p>
<p>Also, be careful when you ask someone face-to-face what they think of your essay. Ever hear of “little white lie”? You might much likely to get honest answers here (at least from me…can’t speak for anyone else on this forum).</p>