<p>I have about three essays started for the Common App, I'm just trying to figure out what might be the best angle to show admissions who I am. For the story question (1) I have two different styles of the same story, and then a third essay that answers the favorite place (3) with a completely different topic.</p>
<p>For the first question, I talk about my father's stroke and how that changed me as a person, one essay as a narrative, and the other as an evaluation/analysis/overview of me as a person throughout the ordeal. I know generally tragedy essays are cliche, but what should I aim for to write about it eloquently? If I submitted this one, I'm leaning toward the evaluation because it's more unique and gives insight to my personality. I was also considering just mentioning it in the additional comments if I went with my third essay option.</p>
<p>For the favorite place, I was planning to discuss how I love the gym and how health has become a passion for me. Again, I realize this might be slightly cliche, but I've got a spin for it to make it unique.</p>
<p>Time permitting, I’d advise you to write a draft of everything – question 3, and both versions of question 1 – and then consider which you like best, or if you want to incorporate elements of one into another. Sometimes you see a prompt and immediately think, “I want to write that one!” and then you sit down to write it and realize you don’t have much to say after all. So it’s hard to judge which is the best option when nothing has actually been written yet.</p>
<p>@jpheys Thank you! That’s why I got started early, I didn’t want to cut anything short, and I thought they were all feasible options, so I’ll keep working on them and take your advice </p>
<p>I also have two options for my common app essay and don’t know which to keep working on and eventually send in. One, for the question about the place I am most comfortable, would talk about my experience in a professional theatre backstage greenroom. This shows my passion for theatre, development as an actor and person, and my exposure to very diverse people. However, because I will be applying for BA and BFA’s in Musical Theatre and Acting, I was advised to stay away from writing about the theatre as it can be cliche/overdone.
My other option would be the question about a moment that my beliefs were challenged. I was always very sick about hearing about feminism and women in science, technology, engineering, and math because my school is constantly talking about it, but when I traveled to a few countries last summer (specifically a few muslim ones) I became very aware of the gender equality that I take for granted. In writing about my revelation and understanding the importance of women in leadership positions etc, I would be able to share my experiences traveling the world (I have been to may unique places that have changed my view of the world and made me a global citizen), my understanding of the world, and my passion for human rights equality. Though I would not use the word feminism in the essay (as it is so polarizing) I am still afraid that this could be too taboo to write my essay on, though it is dear to my heart.</p>
<p>What are your thoughts? Should I write something cliche and sweet or potentially polarizing but something that reveals a lot about me?</p>
<p>@live2act2
If a school would turn you down for explaining that gender equality is important to you, that may not be a school you would actually be happy attending. </p>
<p>It sounds like a good topic, but be careful that you make sure it doesn’t sound like you’re criticizing Islam in general. You never know who all your readers will be, so you don’t want to make one dislike you potentially. I don’t think it’ll be taboo as long as you don’t place the blame for inequality on the religion. </p>
<p>+1 to what @430ktk said. Even if the readers aren’t Muslim, most colleges go out of their way to find students who are accepting of all faiths/cultures so to create a tolerant student body. I actually don’t think it’d be necessary to mention Islam in the essay at all. (Also, for future reference, when you have a question please start your own thread rather than hijack someone else’s )</p>
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