To be Clich

College Essays
1

<p>I'm stuck in a huge dilemma as of now. I've been working on the Common App main essay for the past few weeks and I feel like I'm running into a road block. I'm torn between choosing one prompt over the other:</p>

<p>a) Significant achievement - started a successful nonprofit organization, and how doing so impacted my personal growth and outlook.</p>

<p>b) Influential person - father's diagnosis with cancer and his eventual passing, and how his battles have shaped me.</p>

<p>I realize that choice B is quite cliche, as bad as it sounds. If I were to choose B, I would definitely not make it a sob story, but rather highlight specific examples of how my father has influenced me. Yet again, I feel that this is somewhat bland and a typical essay submitted by many applicants. I know I could personalize it very greatly by including my own voice and story, etc, but that is definitely not my strong suit.</p>

<p>Choice A, I feel that it might make me stand out much more than choice B; however, I am not too sure about what exactly to talk about and how it has shaped me. </p>

<p>I've already started working on both essays, and I've been going back and forth inefficiently. I really want to focus on one and perfect it. But I am SO torn as to which one I should choose.</p>

<p>Any tips or advice?</p>

2

<p>I would go with A since less applicants will have that type of an accomplishment. :)</p>

3

<p>I disagree.</p>

<p>Look, nobody on the internet can tell you more about your own life than you can. You need to take a step back, clear your head, and really think about this problem. Don’t think of the essay reader at this point - just think about which of these subjects you feel most powerfully about. Which one you really think has made you into the person you are today more than anything else. Which one you can use to show that you are a person that that college needs on their campus.</p>