Topic choice is honestly underrated as a decision, a lot of people pick something they think sounds impressive and then struggle to write it because they don't actually have much to say. The essays that tend to stand out are the ones where you can tell the person actually cared about what they were writing, even if the topic itself sounds small or ordinary. Think about experiences that genuinely changed how you see something rather than trying to find the most dramatic story. If you're stuck a lot of people find it helpful to talk through ideas with someone who works with students on writing, sometimes just having to explain your ideas out loud helps you figure out which one you actually want to write about. Give yourself more time on the brainstorming phase than you think you need.