Is it okay to mention death in my college essay, and should I use a 'death sentences' poster as a metaphor?
I'm working on my Common App essay and the topic that feels most genuine to me is about losing a close family member. I also have this idea of including a metaphor based on a 'death sentences' poster I saw in English class, which really stuck with me. I'm worried, though, that writing so openly about death might be too heavy or cliché for admissions officers.
Has anyone used a similar theme or even referenced something like a poster or visual in their essays before? I'm stressing about if it will come off as unoriginal or if it could actually make my essay stand out. I just want to make sure my story comes across as authentic and not like I'm trying too hard to get sympathy.
Any advice on tackling this would really help. If you've written about death or used some kind of object or poster as a metaphor, did it work for you?
Has anyone used a similar theme or even referenced something like a poster or visual in their essays before? I'm stressing about if it will come off as unoriginal or if it could actually make my essay stand out. I just want to make sure my story comes across as authentic and not like I'm trying too hard to get sympathy.
Any advice on tackling this would really help. If you've written about death or used some kind of object or poster as a metaphor, did it work for you?
4 months ago
•
38 views
Camille Luong
• 4 months ago
Advisor
Writing about loss, grief, or death in a college essay can absolutely be powerful, but there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure your story is authentic and compelling—not just heavy for the sake of being heavy. Admissions officers do read a lot of essays about loss, so your voice and your personal perspective are what will set your essay apart.
If you want to use the 'death sentences' poster as a metaphor, that could work especially well if you tie it directly to your unique experience. For example, you might describe the moment you first saw the poster in class and how it shaped or deepened your understanding of what you were going through. Maybe you realized that certain words or phrases, like the ones on the poster, took on deeper meanings for you during your grief. Anchoring your feelings and reflections to a specific visual, rather than just abstract emotions, can make your essay feel grounded and distinctive.
One important tip: focus less on detailing the event itself and more on how it changed or shaped you. For instance, you might explain how your relationship with the person you lost continues to influence your actions, relationships, or worldview. If the poster led you to write poetry, join a grief support group, or even have a difficult conversation you had been avoiding, mentioning those concrete outcomes will illustrate growth and self-awareness.
I've seen students successfully discuss deeply personal topics like the loss of a family member—what really resonated was when they shared a very specific story (like an inside joke with the person, or a tradition you still honor). That detail stayed with the reader. As for referencing objects or visuals: it's a strong technique when you're intentional about the metaphor. For example, a student once wrote about an old, faded quilt as a symbol for their family's history and their own journey through healing. The essay worked because the metaphor wasn't just decorative, it revealed new layers about the writer's experience.
Ultimately, it’s not the heaviness of the topic that matters most, but how you invite the reader to see something familiar in a new way. As long as you let your authentic voice shine through, focus on personal meaning rather than trying for sympathy, and make your metaphor specific to your situation, your essay can be both original and memorable.
If you want to use the 'death sentences' poster as a metaphor, that could work especially well if you tie it directly to your unique experience. For example, you might describe the moment you first saw the poster in class and how it shaped or deepened your understanding of what you were going through. Maybe you realized that certain words or phrases, like the ones on the poster, took on deeper meanings for you during your grief. Anchoring your feelings and reflections to a specific visual, rather than just abstract emotions, can make your essay feel grounded and distinctive.
One important tip: focus less on detailing the event itself and more on how it changed or shaped you. For instance, you might explain how your relationship with the person you lost continues to influence your actions, relationships, or worldview. If the poster led you to write poetry, join a grief support group, or even have a difficult conversation you had been avoiding, mentioning those concrete outcomes will illustrate growth and self-awareness.
I've seen students successfully discuss deeply personal topics like the loss of a family member—what really resonated was when they shared a very specific story (like an inside joke with the person, or a tradition you still honor). That detail stayed with the reader. As for referencing objects or visuals: it's a strong technique when you're intentional about the metaphor. For example, a student once wrote about an old, faded quilt as a symbol for their family's history and their own journey through healing. The essay worked because the metaphor wasn't just decorative, it revealed new layers about the writer's experience.
Ultimately, it’s not the heaviness of the topic that matters most, but how you invite the reader to see something familiar in a new way. As long as you let your authentic voice shine through, focus on personal meaning rather than trying for sympathy, and make your metaphor specific to your situation, your essay can be both original and memorable.
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Camille Luong
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Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
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