The thing is I wrote about my experience before and after a public speaking competition, and wrote about it from the bottom of my heart, not thinking too much about what and how to write. And now I’ve been wondering if that might be too cliché??
Examples, (just MHO)
The “What I learned at this academic conference/camp/event” essay
The “What my mom/dad/family taught me” essay
The “How I felt about moving to a whole new place or being in a new environment” essay
The “How I learned to fit in” essay
The “Death of person x” essay
The “How my parents’ divorce changed me” essay
The “Here’s a very vague essay about my family’s culture” essay
Also cliche
Sports in general/come from behind victory/sports injury
Service projects showing passion for others
Your family’s history in a specific profession or field
Role models
“How going on a one-week volunteer trip to _______ changed me forever.”
It really depends on your focus. As yourself: what am I trying to convey to the admissions officers? What will my essay show about my character, personality, beliefs? I think your essay topic has possibility. Just don’t be too general. Begin with a great opening to draw the reader in. Use specific details. Narrow your focus. Make the essay compelling and engaging. After you write a first draft, seek another pair of eyes for feedback. There are lots of guidelines on the web for writing good essays. I highly recommend reading models of terrific essays. There are books of them. You can also read them on Johns Hopkins website and Tufts.
“My immigrant /cultural assimilation experience”
“How ____ made me realize I want to be a doctor”
"How playing the piano helped me realize ____ "
If I had a dollar for every unsolicited PM’d “piano essay” that I’ve received…
Agreed. Along similar lines “How my school trip to ________ taught me that people around the world really are not that different.”
Also, don’t use the phrase about being a “citizen of the world”
S1 (an expat kid) actually used that phrase in his prep school admissions essay. Then afterwards, I read a bunch of online essays from students who used the same corny phrase-- groan…
Would it be contradictory to write an essay about an extracurricular activity for your common app essay that you decided not to do in senior year because it was too much of a time commitment?