What it is: The gag-worthy thank you note written for Mom and Dad masquerading as a college application essay.
Sample (not submitted by actual applicant): “Most people think super heroes are exclusive to comic books or the silver screen, but most people are wrong. I’ve seen super heroism in my lifetime, on a daily basis—acts of heroism that surpass web slinging or leaping tall buildings in a single bound. To me, the root of heroism is impacting lives, and no person has had a greater impact on my life than my mother.
I remember the day my mother announced that I had grown too old for training wheels. “I’m not ready,” I cried. But my mother dried my tears and told me she wouldn’t let go of the bike till I was ready. True to her word, she stayed outside and helped me learn how to ride on two wheels instead of four. Without her encouragement, I would have given up before I began. But her persistence led me to believe I was capable of doing things I once thought were impossible.”
Why you wrote it: Your parents have generally been there for everything from your greatest accomplishments to your most devastating disappointments. They were your first teachers, your role models, and are life-long mentors. So when asked to write about someone who has had a significant impact on you, who better to write about than Mom and Dad? (Runner-up in this category is your favorite teacher.)
Why admission counselors hate to read it: It’s obvious. Of course the person who raised you has had the greatest impact on your life…that’s the very definition of raising a child. So it stands to reason that almost everyone will immediately identify their parents as the most influential people in their life. What’s more, these essays typically tell us more about the mother or father than they do the author, the person we actually want to get to know.
Solution: When answering the question “Who’s had the greatest impact on your life?” try to identify someone other than your parents or guardian. Oftentimes, an unexpected choice (such as a school janitor, TV show character, or pet) can serve as the jumping off point for a very clever and unique essay. Also, you should use no more than 30%-50% of your essay to describe the person of interest; remember, this essay is supposed to be about you.
All that being said, some of the best essays we’ve ever read are about parents or other family members; however, these essays usually focus on an unusual circumstance, which gives the piece a little more of a dramatic arc. Remember, your essay should be enjoyable to read for not only Mom and Dad, but someone who’s probably read 20 essays that day before yours.
“Cliché Essay” is a new series of posts reflecting on the stalest admission essay topics we’ve received at Centre. Watch over the coming days for more entries as we reveal the top five topics you should reconsider before committing a crime of mediocrity.
