<p>What are topics that are generic and will make admissions cringe? What is too unoriginal?</p>
<p>bump bump bump</p>
<p>Boring writing will bore readers - this goes for all writing.</p>
<p>There are dangerous topics that put adcoms in odd positions such as writing about illegal activities, alcohol, and sox with an e.</p>
<p>There’s a whole section on this in “On Writing the Application Essay” by Harry Bauld. It’s in the CC recommendation list and it’s a great book - I borrowed it from my library.</p>
<p>I think some of the bad ones were like “jock”, pet death, the “trip”, things like “I made that home run and saved the day”.</p>
<p>But as long as they aren’t dangerous, like the ones fallenmerc mentioned, any topic, even the ones that often make a generic essay, can be good, as long as you express it well.</p>
<p>writing about grandma and grandpa, the trip you took to a foreign country where you learned everyone is just like you, the day your dog fluffy died, the day Jesus inspired you, working in the soup kitchen.</p>
<p>keep in mind that ANY topic is good as long as it is well written; these one’s just tend to be overdone so it is harder to come up with something that will be memorable.</p>
<p>I’ve read to avoid controversial topics such as your personal drug use, depression, eating disorders, etc, unless you can write about them really well in a meaningful way. Also, avoid overdone topics such as trips, your church, etc, because many people write about them. Unless you have a super unique experience.</p>
<p>I jokingly call these the deadly 5: Harry Potter/Twilight, vegetarianism, love (lost or found,) death, “oh, the poor orphans, now I feel privileged.” </p>
<p>Also, stupid trouble you got into, anything that shows you to be naive or have little perspective, don’t make friends easily or judge others harshly- or things that clearly show you are a loner or have trouble meeting challenges. </p>
<p>I have seen great essays about anything, when there is a real message in them. Also, my kids wrote on one of the deadly 5, but they skipped the usual happy/sad and made a point.</p>