Cliche College Admission Essays

Hey everyone! I've been working on drafting my college essays and I'm trying to be unique and stand out. I'm just wondering, what are some of the most overdone college essay topics that I should avoid?

Hi, absolutely, it's important to strike the balance between being truthful and being unique. Here are some of the most overused essay topics:

1. A sports victory or defeat: Unless you have a unique perspective or experience related to sports, this topic generally fails to offer interesting details about you as a person or student.

2. Volunteering trips: Remember, the emphasis should be more on your personal growth and less on the trip itself.

3. The "how I moved and adjusted" narrative: This is frequently used and can be seen as predictable, so it's best to avoid it unless it truly shapes you as a person.

4. Overcoming an injury: Oftentimes, these essays can focus too much on the injury itself rather than the experience or growth of the individual.

5. The "I learned more from my students” essay: Often, these narratives attempt to illustrate a charitable or humble nature but can often fall into harmful stereotypes.

6. Narratives about death or divorce: While these topics are no doubt impactful, they are also quite common and can often end up focusing on the event itself rather than demonstrating personal growth or character development.

Remember, what makes any topic unique is not just the subject matter but also your distinct perspective and voice. For instance, if you still want to write about being an immigrant, perhaps you could analyze a particular incident where you were made to feel unwelcome and how you responded to it positively, maybe through community service or by organizing a welcoming committee for new immigrants. The key to all this is to keep your own personal growth and individual voice at the center. Good luck!