<p>Hey my first post ever on CC…So i’m currently a junior and have signed up for the Common App and I know one of the things you can write about is something of your choosing. I wanted my essay to have a of how unconventional I am (b/c i am) and the one thing that really sticks out in my mind is me doing MMA. The problem is A. Do you think this would turn out to be another sports essay that is written about thousands of times and therefore cliche? B. Since MMA is commonly thought of as a violent sport, do you think that the mere topic will hurt my chances?</p>
<p>i don’t think the topic will hurt your chances , it’s like as you said, make sure it doesn’t turn into just ‘another’ sports essay. if you think they might assume MMA is violent, then explain it isn’t . (:</p>
<p>true, I guess it depends mostly on how I write…oh and btw did I mention i’m a girl?</p>
<p>Personally, I would definitely be interested in your story :)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>That depends on you. </p>
<p>If what you say in the essay is commonly known, then it will be cliche. If you say something that is personal, detailed, and revealing; something that is so you that no one else could write it, then it will not be cliche.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>No. What you do with the topic, not the topic itself, is what matters.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Make sure that you show, don’t tell. </p>
<p>[Show</a>, don’t tell](<a href=“http://users.wirefire.com/tritt/tip1.html]Show”>http://users.wirefire.com/tritt/tip1.html)</p>
<p>Saying that you are unconventional is unpersuasive; anyone can say anything. Showing that you’re unconventional–with personal, revealing details–can be persuasive. </p>
<p>Ideally, the word unconventional won’t appear in your essay–yet the essay will show unconventionality so persuasively that unconventional will come to your readers’ minds when thinking of you.</p>
<p>There is good advice here:</p>
<p>[Essays</a>, Admission Information, Undergraduate Admission, U.Va.](<a href=“http://www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/writingtheessay.html]Essays”>http://www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/writingtheessay.html)</p>
<p>@Jubilee- Aww thanks</p>
<p>@ADad- thank you for the great advice, i will indeed make sure to demonstrate many different qualities of mine without telling about them or deluding those qualities</p>