ivyleaguegirl95

I am apart of the Class of 2013 and I wanted to start writing my essay early. The topic I thought about writing is how I felt when I moved from Africa to the US when I was in 2nd grade. I want to write about all the dreams and opportunities I knew would be available to me here. And then talk about various things I've been able to do because of the opportunities available to me and how I am full of dreams now?

How does that sound? I want to know of any suggestions you guys have.

lehhgo

Honestly, I feel as if I've heard this sort of story before. If there is something unique about your journey talk about that! You could even base the essay around that one specific thing.

zobroward

schools love "diversity" stuff but like lehhgo said before me it sounds super played out!

jerseyboi

dads friend works in admissions. Never talk about community service that "changed your life ". They'll throw it aside. I have something very unique about myself that I'm going to write. they read that **** all the time about community service and ****

ADad

There are NO cliche topics.

There are only cliche treatments of topics.

One the ten or so best essays I ever read, and I have read hundreds, was about community service in a foreign country.

Your best topic is the one that allows you to write the most personal, detailed, specific, revealing essay. The essay that, ideally, is so you that no one else could write it.

There is excellent advice at:

Essays, Admission Information, Undergraduate Admission, U.Va.

theunforgiven

No, it's not a great topic to write on. By that I mean, the topic itself would not add ANYTHING to your application. It's hard to imagine adcoms relaxing after reading 100 essays in the first 3 hours and chitchatting to each other saying things like "Hey, remember the one about that kid coming here form Africa? That was fun." .."Yeah, good read..that."

What you can do is make this your own. By this I mean, if they read 100 essays about the same exact topic (and it is likely that many people would write about similar if not same topics, given that there are 25000 applicants...imagine the odds), they should remember yours because of the personality you put in the essay, the life of the essay, the voice, and the little details.

If you do it right, this topic, which is ok to be honest, might get you in where you want to go.

PS I'm not an expert, so don't take my word for it. But do consider what I said if you find it rational.