Undergraduate / "Death of a friend" or "International student experience" Essay topics for common app [3]

I have two essays ready for my common app
One is about the death of a friend, and it's huge impact on me
and the second is about my experience as an international student for 2 yrs in the US

For school specific essays "why x school" how should I go around these essays?
Should I talk about info from their website, and say why I would like it there?

What topic is more appropriate for the common app? Is there a way I can post my essays without every user seeing them - but the moderators?

Thank you