<p>I realize that most who write an essay for a top college have a topic that relates to their academic ability, extracurricular ability, or something else that makes them appear 'accomplished'. I know that I could write about debate and how much it changed me, which it really did, or a summer program I took and how it encouraged me to do PolySci, which it also really did, but those topics seem like fairly utilized ones.</p>
<p>So I was thinking about writing about something else entirely. My father is an immigrant from a country in the Middle East. He comes from a valley in that country that is very remote - only 300 people inhabit it, and about half of them share my last name. I've visited that valley almost every summer (flew overseas, etc.) since I was a kid. Many of my cousins, along with two uncles and an aunt, and both my grandparents, live there. Although it wouldn't relate to academics or ECs in anyway, I could discuss how this valley was my home away from home and how it truly means so much to me in several different ways. It made me appreciate family, the Arabic language, my Muslim heritage, and where my father came from. I have cousins there whom I consider to be some of my best friends.</p>
<p>Wouldn't writing about something like that be so much more original than the topic about debate or a summer program? The thought crossed my mind yesterday, and I just wanted an opinion on whether or not it was appropriate for a college essay. I'm looking into HYPS, Brown, Vanderbilt, Rice, and University of Michigan. So... what do you guys think? :)</p>
<p>Quite frankly, writing about your cultural roots is also done frequently, so I don’t think it’s that much more original. I’ve seen many essays about growing up in small, rural towns or about how the heritage of so-and-so’s family affected his outlook on life.</p>
<p>That said, even common topics can be done creatively. To that end, all of your options (so far) are viable and can make for compelling statements (it’s hard to tell which one’s best without actually reading them all). I wouldn’t necessarily place more weight on the essay about your heritage, but it seems like you’re much more enthusiastic about it, so you might as well go for it.</p>
<p>I figured this might be more original because it’s such a remote place in another corner of the globe, a place which I really belong to, rather than a mission trip or Ambassador program to a country that so many applicants describe as having ‘changed’ them. I guess you’re right though, in that many applicants have chosen a similar topic before. I forget how ‘international’ the applicants are to these schools… where I’m from, it’s a unique characteristic of mine, whereas the majority of applicants to schools like Harvard typically have very interesting stories to tell.</p>
<p>It’s really more about how you write it and what it says about you. I could write an essay about watching grass grow but if it reflects me better than my essay on visiting the moon, then my grass growing essay is better.</p>
<p>It’s all about what the essay says about you.</p>
<p>It’s fine to write about whatever you want.</p>
<p>I agree with An0maly. Show what makes you who you are. Why should I want to admit you? How do I know that you are a good person? If you can answer questions like these, I think you’ll be able to create an excellent essay.</p>
<p>It might be easier to sound good if you don’t write about debate, or family culture, or stuff like that.</p>
<p>I think anomaly touched on this, but if you are going to use a topic like that, you should definitely focus on how those things affect you personally, and add to your character, eg, something that makes you special or taught you specific lessons.</p>
<p>You shouldn’t just describe the cultural things, then just generically tie it back to you, like “because of my varied heritage, I have experienced many things that I believe have made me a stronger person.”</p>
<p>Absolutely. I’m aware that almost everyone who writes this type of essay makes the generalization of ‘it made me aware of my heritage’ as the prevailing lesson learned. However, I have very specific reasons. For the Arabic language, my friend would give me reading and writing lessons every day in the shed behind his house. For my appreciation of my Islamic faith, I would describe how my grandfather cited verses from the Qu’uran daily. For my appreciation of the comforts of America, I would go into detail about how there was only electricity for 6 hours out of the day and how, for hours on end, I would skin tobacco leaves to be shipped to another city. It’s not simply a generalization for me; I would have very specific circumstances detailing why the place was so important and why it truly changed me in a way that nothing else ever could have.</p>