<p>I’m applying via Common App to many schools and want to use the first topic of “background or story central to your identity”. I initially wanted to write about how I learned to be more independent from my single mother. Thinking more about that topic, it feels too … common? Then, I realized I could write about my dance studio & dance “family”, considering the only person truly supportive of my dancing is my mom. I feel like I could elaborate well on both, but I feel that both would be somewhat redundant. I’m sending dance supplements to schools that accept them, so they would know about my interest in dance. Which essay topic seems more interesting and unique?</p>
<p>I think either of these topics would make a good essay. Your topics are fairly broad, so yes, students will have talked about these things, but none of them experienced them in the same way that you have. In creating a unique essay, the devil is in the details.<br>
Your unique, only could be written by you, details!</p>
<p>I’d suggest you write drafts of both essays and submit the best one, which will probably be obvious to you when they are finished. One problem I think you could run into in the dance essay is telling too much about the others in your dance “family” and not showing enough about yourself. Be sure that the reader of your finished product learns about you- not who your mom is or who your dance family is, but who you are.</p>