<p>An interesting topic might be wanting to be a full time mother. We had extensive discussions about this in a class last year. In our generation there will be far fewer stay at home mothers than any generation before. It has to do with the fact that the middle class is in fact making less than ever. Without incredible sacrifice, only the wealthy moms will be at home. This this a lot of implications for society.</p>
<p>I could see a great essay on why the Country needs to value motherhood. Don't suppose they see that often.</p>
<p>Yikes, that sounds risky. Sounds like I don't care about my education. Most people, especially CC type of people--overachievers with high corporate hopes--think being a full-time mother is degrading or somehow less respectable than working. But working with children is my first love. I have been babysitting for many years. Nearly all of my volunteer work and employment involve children. I want to experience the world and work in fields that I love, but my biggest dream is eventually to raise my own family.</p>
<p>Where I work (a summer camp for 3-5 year olds), I see far too many children brought to camp by their nannies. It makes me sad to see the child kiss the nanny goodbye instead of his or her parents. I want to be the one taking my child to camp and school and sitting with them when they cry or need food. It's not that I don't value my own life--I have lots of things I'd love to do, especially something involving writing, filmmaking, and medicine. And I'd love to do those things for a few years, maybe until my late 20's/early 30's. But when I think of my future, the first thing I imagine is my family life--that's really my dream.</p>
<p>I mean, really! What adcom's idea of fun is reading about how some kid is afraid of throwing up? Because that's really what it comes down to. They're already overworked during the application season. Don't tick them off or gross them out on top of it, because that's a sure-fire way to end up in the reject pile. Don't write about your phobia of vomiting in a college essay.</p>
<p>Did you even read my post? The story is about overcoming my fear to help a sick young child. I see what you're saying and I understand your point, but the phobia would not be the main focus of the essay. The idea of the essay is that no matter how frightened I am of something, when it comes down to do or die, I can find the strength to do it.</p>
<p>That seems to me to be a far more unique and interesting topic than the research I did over the summer or my experience on the water polo team. That's the kind of thing that's going to make adcoms groan because they see it NONSTOP.</p>
<p>"The idea of the essay is that no matter how frightened I am of something, when it comes down to do or die, I can find the strength to do it."</p>
<p>Cliche'. C'mon, find better material than that "It was hard we journeyed for 40 days and 40 nights, but in the end WE TRIED HARD AND TRIUMPHED" crap, because that'll really bore adcoms. And if you're gonna tell one of THOSE stories, please make it more "Do or die", as you put it, than about a stupid fear of seeing vomit. You'll really seem like a mature adult to an adcom writing about stuff like that . And I really hope you're a girl, 'Cus if not, then I feel sorry for you.</p>
<p>Why are you so offensive about this? You came on so strong that you forced me onto the defensive, and when I tried to defend myself you got more angry than seems reasonable to me. I don't think my essay sounds cliche--I think you simply don't understand what a phobia really is. Hopefully that is one of the things I'd be able to convey in the actual essay, because if I can't, then you're right, it will sound quite odd.</p>
<p>I don't appreciate you assuming I am immature because I have a phobia. A phobia is a medically documented case of irrational fear towards an object that the phobic person logically KNOWS cannot hurt them. People have phobias of many things, from heights to spiders to enclosed spaces to driving over bridges. You are disrespectable and you don't even make any attempt to understand the lives of other people who may not have it quite as easy as you--I personally have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. You are completely unsupportive, close-minded, and you are not even attempting to empathize. </p>
<p>I sincerely believe that the mature adults on the adcoms will be far more understanding of other people's personal struggles rather than laugh them off as if they were invalid.</p>
<p>I had a friend who got into Columbia and the "f-word" was readily prevalent throughout his paper; but I mean, it was rather fitting with the topic of his essay so I don't know.</p>
<p>i don't think the essay is cliche if it's true, it's not like she's going to describe in explicit detail VOMIT and why are you getting all worked up over someone's essay who you don't know? good luck semiserious.</p>
<p>Well semi, the bottom line is most mother' simply can't afford to be the one kissing their kid goodbye. If you look at income numbers, only the top 5% of earners can basically afford a family on one income. So to say you intend to be a stay at home mom, you must be planning to marry rich! There has to be an interesting essay in there!!</p>
<p>Haha, not where I live. These mothers have nannies driving BMWs to take their kids (who are wearing Ralph Lauren jackets and carrying Betsey Johnson bathing suits) to dirty, muddy SUMMER CAMP. And I swear to God that's not an exaggeration. :)</p>
<p>Suze - Lots of single-income families that aren't in the top 5% of earners. It's just a matter of how you spend/save your money. K-Mart, here I come!</p>