Is Hillary Clinton a common theme for college essays?

Hey all, has anyone else noticed a pattern of Hillary Clinton being a popular topic for college essays? Just wondering if choosing such a topic would make my application blend in or stand out?

Writing your essay on a popular or well-known figure like Hillary Clinton certainly isn't uncommon, but it's important to approach these topics thoughtfully. You have to remember that the admissions office will be reading thousands of essays and they've probably been exposed to most topics under the sun. So, if you tell a story about you and Hillary Clinton that's personal and specific to you, rather than focusing on her public persona, it can indeed make your essay stand out.

A comprehensive rule of thumb with choosing essay topics is to ensure it reveals something about you – your values, your thinking process, your personal growth, etc. You could certainly write about how studying Hillary Clinton's career or encountering her at a speaking event has influenced your life direction, inspired you, or taught you life-long lessons. But be careful to showcase YOUR journey, not just hers.

It's also crucial to consider the tone and overall content. In other words, the essay should aim to reveal more about your personality, your understanding of the world, and the way you have grown as a person. An essay about a political figure that slips into politically charged commentary could be a risk, not because of the topic itself, but because it may come across as polarizing or one-sided.

In conclusion, the uniqueness of your essay will not come necessarily from the subject matter or topic alone, but from how you present your own relation to it, in a way that would give the Admissions Officer a better understanding of who you are. In other words, yes, you can write about Hillary Clinton, but your end goal should always be to reveal more about you, your values and your journey so far and where you see it going.