So basically I’m writing about how people aren’t necessarily in control of their fate and that the conditions you were born in sometimes determine your fate. I’ll write about how I’m lucky but I take advantage of the opportunities that were given to me. Will it just sound like I believe that I didn’t have to work for my accomplishments and that they were just given to me?
As someone who wrote about something very stereotypical for my admissions essays, I’m a big fan of the notion that no topic should be off-limits to someone who’s a decent writer.
But… I’m hesitant about that. While it’s good that you’re acknowledging your privilege in whatever area, I think you very much run the risk of coming off as humble-bragging, however unintentionally. I’d say write it, but have someone who can be blunt read it over for tone.
@SpringAwake15 's advice is good. The topic can be done, but tone is especially important. I’d suggest including some of your thoughts from this post (about having to work for your accomplishments even though your opportunities are a reflection of your privilege; privilege and opportunity, after all, can be squandered).
If you’re applying to selective colleges, most of your competition will be hardworking and privileged. How would this essay help you stand out as someone who would make positive contributions to the campus community?
While I agree that a talented writer can make any topic sing, this doesn’t sound promising. Unless this is a piece about how tough your circumstances were growing up, but you’ve made lemonade from lemons, it’s going to be hard to make this sound like anything less than smug and self-congratulatory compare to ‘those people’ who let their ‘fate’ define their choices.
I had started to write an essay about how although I was given everything, some other students were not and that it negatively impacted their grades etc. I later elaborated and mentioned that I plan to make it my mission to ensure that every child gets the same opportunity (whether they seize it or not, up to them). This was somewhat tough to write and make personal and it took away from my other essays that were really well written and flowed naturally so I did not include it.
I do think that if you can make it work that it would make a good impression because its not like a poor person is like I want to help other poor people, but that even an affluent student realizes the unfairness. Make sure though that you don’t dwell on the opportunities that were given to you, but perhaps the ones that were not given to other people and that you want to change that (idk if that makes sense). I could be totally off here, but hopefully this gives you some sort of inspiration.
As a side note, try to write about your passions, because ultimately that’s what they want to see.