<p>So I recently started working on my essay and I have decided to write about my immigration to the US from iraq after being exposed to war( I was 10 yo when I came to the US). Many have told me that this topic is too overdone and cliche and I should find something else? Please give me advice, thanks </p>
<p>Hmmm… yeah I can see that being too cliche because many people who have immigrated here from other countries usually write about that. I would write about something that inspires you or something that’s personal (not too personal) :)</p>
<p>The subject is probably cliche, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad topic. Just make sure your essay isn’t cliche</p>
<p>Thanks guys I’ll have to give it some more thought then :/</p>
<p>Doesn’t sound cliche at all to me. I certainly don’t know any 10 year olds that have had war going on in their backyard. As long as you don’t write cliche sentences or come to cliche conclusions, it very well could be an extremely compelling essay. Best of luck.</p>
<p>There are no cliche topics.</p>
<p>There are only cliche treatments of topics.</p>
<p>IMO the “immigration angle” is overdone, however, you are not just an immigrant. You lived in a war zone that the rest of us (and probably 99.9% of all of the admissions officers) only saw on tv. How did you survive? How did it change you? How does it drive you and make you who you are? What happened the day your family decided to leave? Write about that.</p>
<p>I completely agree with @ADad 's statement.</p>
<p>@redpoodles are you a high school student? And yes I lived in the middle of the war, while bombs and gun shots went off every few minutes. I know I have a unique story, I just am unsure of how to put it on paper, you know?
Any more of your helpful advice is definitely welcome and appreciated.</p>
<p>I’m a parent. You could start by just pouring it out. I call it a “vomit draft,” where you basically just throw everything up on the page and let it stick for a while. After that, comb through and see what resonates emotionally, what is too repetitive, and what surprises you. Then start molding your story, little by little, being sure to respect your authentic voice–that emotional part that will connect to the reader and make them feel like they “know” you. After that you employ all those things you learned in English class—structure, focus, build. Don’t stress on the first draft! No one sees it but you. I was a professional writer at one time and I never showed anything to anyone until the 4th or 5th draft. It’s going to be approaching something pretty great by the time you get to that 4th draft. :)</p>
<p>@redpoodles wow thank you so much! That is very good advice, I tend to expect my first draft to be perfect, and that causes a “blockage” for me. Your advice is priceless thanks a bunch!</p>
<p>True, almost every immigrant and even 1st generation American picks the same topic, but as long as you are aware of that and have a story to tell don’t worry about it. I live near a city with a Refuge Center and so I also know there are going to be many essays discussing war, but again you have your own perspective. Even if Adcoms have heard it all before I feel they are still going to find the topic compelling. You almost can’t go wrong.</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s a cliche at all! A lot of people would write about the hardships of immigration, but definitely not a lot of people would write about being exposed to war as a child.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about being cliche- just tell it like it is. That’s all the admissions offices can expect from you.</p>
<p>I LOVE @redpoodles advice about vomit draft, if you are still afraid of being cliche with the topic, maybe don’t write about the overused immigrant side of it, but maybe how seeing war changed you and how it tints the things you see today.</p>
<p>(If you have ever watched Mean Girls, there are a few scenes where the main character (from Africa) relates the drama in high school to the drama of the wildlife in the jungle, and she imagines/hallucinates the students physically attacking each other as if they were wild animals)</p>
<p>Obviously you wouldn’t write anything so crass, but maybe how things in America remind you of similar things from the war or shock you in how they never would have been done at that time in your country. Really anything on how it has changed you and how you see things differently than others.</p>
<p>Just an idea, let me know what you think.</p>
<p>It’s not cliche if it is unique and personal to you. Basically, so it doesn’t sound like any other kid could have wrote it. I don’t know that many kids who have moved and experienced a war torn country, especially one that is currently volatile as Iraq. Doesn’t sound cliche to me at all. In fact, it actually sounds interesting and if you’d like I’d love to help you take a look when you’re done.</p>
<p>Good luck Hammergal!</p>
<p>The immigration essay is very common, but personalize it and talk about how you dealt with the danger and the transition and differences of your life in Iraq and America</p>