Too cliche? Writing about gender and tradition.

Hi, I’m an Asian female applying to college this fall. For my common app essay, I wanted to write about my family’s very concrete idea of “what it means to be a woman” and how I grew up walking a tight line between respecting my family members but also pursuing my passions.

Is this an over-done topic? If an admissions officer reads this, would they think “oh great, here’s another Asian girl’s essay on growing up in a traditional family”?

I think it is a great topic as long as it is done correctly and shows your personality and your beliefs through it. It would have to be your personal situation, how it made you feel, and how you overcame it! I would love to swap essays so we can edit each others!

If you really want to write this topic you basically have to make it to where admissions officers won’t say that. Make it personal/specific enough to where you can say only you would be able to write this essay. ie mention specific examples that you went through and had to experience.

How does that essay make them want to admit you? That’s what this process is all about; it’s a chance to separate your application from all the others with identical numbers and EC’s.