What are some of the most overused college essay topics?

Hi friends, working on my personal essays for applications and don't want to sound cliché. I'd love to know - what are some of the most overused college essay topics that I should probably avoid?

Certainly! Here are a few overused college essay topics you might want to avoid:

1. A Sports Injury or Victory: While the life lessons learnt from sports can be compelling, it's a narrative that's been told many times. Unless your story presents a genuinely unique angle, it might not stand out to admissions officers.

2. Being an Immigrant or Learning a New Language: These stories can often focus on the hardship and struggle of adjusting to a new environment or culture. While valid and important, without a unique perspective they can end up sounding clichéd.

3. Moving to a New School or City: These types of big life changes are often written about in essays, but unless there's a unique outcome or surprising lesson learned, it might seem a bit unoriginal.

4. Performing Poorly and Then Excelling: Many students recount receiving a poor grade and how it motivated them to perform better. But unless this experience showcases a significant personal transformation, it may not resonate with the admissions officer.

5. Volunteering Trips: Writing about a brief volunteering trip, often to developing countries, can often feel superficial and insincere, unless there's a strong manifestation of personal growth or engagement with the community involved.

Remember, these topics can still be written about effectively if you can bring a fresh perspective to them. It's more about how you describe your experiences, think critically about them, and articulate your growth, rather than the topic itself. For instance, instead of writing about an overall immigration experience, you could talk about a specific incident or moment that shaped you and had lasting effects on your world perspectives.