<p>I'm thinking about writing about an specific aspect of the chinese culture and how it affects me. The essay would include stuff about learning to fit in. Is this "fitting in" topic overly done? Would it hurt me?</p>
<p>
Almost every college essay topic is overdone.
Yes. Of course, I haven’t seen your essay, nor do I know much about your topic except that it has something to do with “asian” and “fitting in.” But my spidey-senses tell me your essay’s gonna suck ;).</p>
<p>Umm I would avoid trying to embrace your “asian-ness” on your college app. Please tell me that your not planning on talking about ANY of the following in your essay: Your love of science or math, your passion for the violin, your deft tennis skills, your academic drive, or your hate of affirmative action. Not racist here at all, but colleges dont want another classical asian. So, I’d say that if the essay helps break yourself away from that above stereotype, by all means write that essay. HOWEVER, if you are gonna mention any of the stuff I listed up there, you would be putting a nail in your coffin that is a rejection letter = D. In other words, if you were applying to the same colleges that I was, I’d want you to write about how your exactly like every other asian in the world.</p>
<p>lol, I don’t want to give away the unique aspect of my essay because then it wouldn’t be unique… so right now the fitting in and asian thing does sound really unoriginal, but I really don’t know what to do.</p>
<p>Would it be better if I focused on art? Since it kinda breaks away from the asian math/science mold?</p>
<p>lol, I was actually going to make it kinda funny and talk about social and community stuff</p>
<p>Yes, it is overdone. Yes, colleges will have seen a million and one of these essays by the time they reach yours. But yes, it is possible to do a good one.
The key is to make it personal- let your voice shine through and show that you’re not just another classical math and science violin tooting Asian. If you can do that, and be funny in the process, that should be fine.
It’s not so much the choice of the essay topic as how well you write it.</p>
<p>If you are a good writer, you can use an overdone topic and MAKE it unique using your own voice and style. It’s up to you how to make it unique.</p>
<p>Writing about your Asian background isn’t the best choice. But nevertheless, it CAN become a fantastic essay.</p>