Common App Essay #1: Immigrant or Gay?

College Essays
1

<p>Prompt #1: Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.</p>

<p>Hello everyone,</p>

<p>Should I write about coming to the US in 2003 and what I have learned from my experience as a Hispanic immigrant, or write about my journey of discovering and accepting that I am gay? I wrote an essay about my immigration experience in AP Lang which I would need to just shorten and edit, or is it worth to start fresh with an essay about my sexual orientation?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Write about being gay works too. I’m sure something about your culture could be in such an essay too.</p>

3

<p>Either topic is just fine. Write whichever one you think will best represent your writing skills and also provide a window into who you are as a person.</p>

4

<p>Write about which you can most connect to. Which are you most passionate about and feel has affected you the most? I hate to bring this up (fyi I love gays!) but you may get a reader who is really religious… This could back fire on you… Just my thoughts</p>

5

<p>Okay, well thanks guys!</p>

6

<p>Maybe both topics? I mean they both sound very central to you as a person. Maybe you can weave them together and set it up so that the immigrant story was central to you when you were younger but being gay is a more recent aspect of your life. </p>

<p>At very least if you focus on one story you should mention the other one even if it’s in one sentance.</p>

7

<p>Strategically-speaking, your immigration essay works more in your favor. You get to score extra underrepresented minority points if you have a compelling story - ie. started from the bottom now we here ala Drake.</p>

<p>It might need to be redone if you originally wrote it for class. </p>

<p>For your sexual orientation story, did you intend it for it to be positive/heartwarming, or sad/touching? The general public sentiment in 2013 is slightly worn-out by the latter, so you may need to restrain any elements of self-pity. </p>

<p>More pointers here - [Guide</a> - The App Style](<a href=“http://www.theappstyle.com/guide/]Guide”>http://www.theappstyle.com/guide/)</p>

8

<p>Okay, I am working on weaving both topics together and will let you guys know! Thanks!</p>

9

<p>I would recommend the Immigrant topic. As a hispanic immigrant myself, I found it easy to write that type of essay. Also, writing about being gay can be slightly controversial. As mentioned above, you never know who your reader is. Might be a small risk.</p>

10

<p>Yeah, given that one of my essays is about coming out, you want to show how you’ve made a difference, rather than wallowing in self-pity. Have you made an LGBT Alliance or something? Positive? If so, you may be on to a good kernel for an essay :)</p>

11

<p>

</p>

<p>Out of curiosity, do you have any other ideas? Did you think of these topics because they are what resonate most with you, or because you think you’re supposed to write about stuff like this? Littler things can be significant too.</p>

12

<p>"have a background or story "</p>

<p>This is your life. Why would you only talk about ONLY one?</p>

13

<p>Because in 650 words it’s hard enough to reflect on one event with any depth, let alone several.</p>

14

<p>I think you should go for both of them. I feel like if you were to combine the two ideas it would turn out to be an interesting essay.</p>