Which Common App Essay Idea is Better?

CarolineChicago
Sat, 26 Sep 2015 16:44:00 +0000

I am applying to some very competitive schools, so it’s crucial that my essay be strong. I’m applying almost exclusively through the Common App, and after pondering the prompts, there are only 2 ideas that have come to mind. I don’t know if either are any good or if they’re both too cliché or weak, so I would really appreciate any brutally honest opinions.

-I’m not completely sure which prompt this would fit under, but one thing I could write about is how I struggled with fitting into the stereotypical Asian mold while it seemed that everyone around me was the perfect little Asian child. I would write about how it affected my image of my self worth and how I eventually broke from that, accepting and appreciating the differences that made me unique in that sense.

-Prompt ? (Maybe 5?): When I was 12, I was hit by a car. The shame and guilt that arose from that incident as well as the (albeit very mild compared to other cases) PTSD quickly consumed my life. I couldn’t sleep because of the flashbacks and I had serious issues with being in a car or crossing streets for a long time afterward. I’m not sure I can pinpoint exactly why this occurred, but I truly see that day as the turning point of when I rapidly began to “grow up.” Now, I could go one of a few ways with this: I could focus the essay on how I realized the value of talking to people instead of bottling it up, or I could focus it on how I realized my parents and the adults around me can’t protect me from life, that it was up to me to be my own protector.

If you’ve read this far, thank you. I don’t know if either topic is appropriate, or if the first would be offensive and the second would be too personal and weighty. I’d love to hear some feedback!