<p>is it too overdone and boring to write about experiences with a summer job or something of that sort?</p>
<p>It is not the topic, it is what you do with the topic.</p>
<p>Virtually any topic can make for an excellent essay. Virtually any topic can make for a poor essay.</p>
<p>Aim for a topic that allows you to be personal, detailed, honest and revealing. A topic that works for someone else might not work for you. A topic that doesn't work for someone else might work for you.</p>
<p>If your essay is personal, detailed, honest and revealing, it won't matter how many other people have written on that topic. Your unique take, your unique personality will make for a good essay that helps you in the applications process.</p>
<p>For good essay advice from UVa, see:</p>
<p>My S was at a loss for an essay topic. I suggested he choose something important to him. He suggested STAR WARS. I responded, "Sure." "Are ya kiddin?" he queeried. "Why not?" I wondered. Dang, but he wrote a great essay about it that included the very important factoid that like DS, Mark Hamil is left handed, and shares DS's birthday. Trust me, it was relevant and quite funny. It worked for him at some pretty impressive schools and balanced his Bach and Latin nicely with something more approachable and not so nerdy. Best of all, it was S's own suggestion and his guiding passion since he was seven years old. (Also mentioned along the way: George Lucas, John Williams, Joseph Campbell, fear of aliens, desire to be a psychiatrist and to write movie music.)</p>
<p>As ADad sagely notes, "It is waht you do withy the topic."</p>
<p>Connecticut College also has a great selection of essays of accepted students on its admissions website.</p>