Near Death Experience Essay too cliche?

BungalowDillon
Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:39:21 +0000

I have two ideas for my common app essay. One of them, the better essay independent of college admissions, is about my almost dying in Grand Cayman. It is very well written and truthful in more than one way. I say what I felt, which I think is actually unique compared to the traditional “5 stages of dying”. However, I have to think of the context of college admissions. What I felt is probably unique to what most people would feel- but they have no way of knowing that. Who can compare my near death experience to the “average” one based off people they know?

My other option is about a time when I brought a harmonica to school. It might speak about me more since it’s an experience that I thought of and initiated. However, the thesis that I got from it is kind of expected for an applicant: “I can still have fun despite authority”. I contrast myself with original blues artists and eventually decide that “I am happy to be blue.”

The second essay is less not as well-write ( I just can’t, adrenaline caused a lucid memory of the first experience), but does the content overwhelm that failure in the context of college admissions?

I would appreciate it people read my polished rough drafts and tell me what they think, but there’s a decent amount of info here to answer without reading them.