"Cliques at school" - Topics for My Essay to UT!

So, I have to write an essay for UT Austin, and Texas A&M, and the question is:

Choose an issue of importance to you-the issue could be personal, school related, local, political, or international in scope-and write an essay in which you explain the significance of that issue to yourself, your family, your community, or your generation.

I was wondering if cliques in school would be an okay subject matter to write about. I want to write about something unique, and I think this topic is pretty unique. I'm hoping that someone can give me some feedback on if this is okay, and if my basic outline is okay to write on too:

Cliques at school

a) Short term effects
i) People don't interact with people unlike them
ii) When people don't fit in with a particular group, they are left out
iii) Cliques are a way of people shutting out other people from being their friends
b) Long Term effects
i) People will not be able to work with certain types of people in the work world
ii) Since they only have a particular type of friends, if they can't find that type of people they can be very lonely
iii) Might reject certain people from their lives

In my opinion, this can either be a big hit or a big fail. Cliques is a very immature subject and the fact that a high school subject like such is of such importance to you doesn't really seem appropriate, not for a college essay at least. However, I might be wrong, if you an prove yourself as a really really good writer through this essay and sen out a deep message than, by all means do so.

Another reason why I believe it isn't a good topic is because it is a personal essay. It seems to me from your outline you're just talking about cliques in general, nothing that had a big impact on yourself.

If you can turn the story around and talk about ow it effected you in some way, than that would be better.

I do recommend brainstorming on more unique topics. I am applying to UT too and I am writing about famine in my country. Of course it doesn't need to be anywhere as serious. I know someone you got admitted to UT and his admissions essay was on socks being lost in the laundry machine. It all depends on how well you develop your subject.

Good luck!

thank you!!

i decided to change my topic to the dangers of the food industry in the United States :)

Hey, I think the clique topic could be great! It could be a sincere, refreshing change for the AO reader.

However, the food industry is important, too. If you intend to major in political science, nutrition, biology, social work, teaching... all of these are easy to connect to the food industry topic. Whatever you write, connect it to a career you would like to pursue. Even if you are not sure yet what you want to do, write it as a prelude to some effort you intend to make, and it'll be impressive.

:-)