tz2013

I know this topic has been mentioned many times, including ones from previous years. Many people say that the college essay needs to be truly unique in order to give the applicant a boost in admission for an Ivy level school. Howeer, I have also read numerous essays that were, while not truly unique, very coherent and passionate and did give the readers a sense of dedication. For any college essay, does it suffice if an essay is passionate and very coherent and can tell a lot about the applicant, even if it is not one of a kind?

kinnikinik

Of course, to paraphase Shakespeare, I believe: there is nothing new under the sun. There are NO new topics, there are simply good, earnest tellings of old stories. HOWEVER, the "one of a kind" aspect is YOU in the story. If you can avoid saying what you THINK they want to hear and just write what you felt and why, it'll be interesting.
Good Luck.