I’m junior in high school, and I started writing my personal essay for college. I have two topics in my mind, one about my role/identity and other about my high school uniform (yes, we wear uniform) and how it symbolizes/represents me.
I heard that administration staffs prefer topics that are ordinary and honest. I read great essays that talked about school bus, COSTCO (obviously),…etc. I feel like they don’t like things that are too common or extreme.
Can you guys make any suggestions? I would really appreciate it. Thanks
Have you read the tips posted at the top of this forum? You should start with those. Review the Common App prompts, too, to see if any obvious ideas come to mind.
As much as cliche it sounds, the best way is to be yourself…and honestly, reading other successful essays may not as be helpful IMHO because it may subconsciously make you write like others not you.
It’s great practice to start writing a personal essay early. When my S started his application process, I realized that even though he earned As in all his English classes, having to write about himself was something he wasn’t used to! Between now and your jr/sr year, you will most likely have many experiences that can be great topics for your essay. Definitely keep practicing, but also keep an open mind as you will likely end up writing an entirely different essay 3-4 years from now. Goodluck! 
You may want to write more than one essay, at least rough drafts, and see how they feel. You have all summer to work on them. I also think that it’s okay to look at other examples. By the time you’re finished editing your personal voice will shine through. Be sure to get AMPLE feedback from friends and teachers, etc, along the way. This process is bound to be a great lesson in writing. If you’re open to comments, you will grow as a writer and you will ultimately be happy with your essay. Best of luck.
Write the essay only you could write.
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