<p>I've seen this around a couple times, but nothing...conclusive yet, so I wasn't sure.</p>
<p>I'm not going to relay my personal life here, but I was simply curious about this, and how much "personal life" really affects the outcome of admissions, if it is even a factor in consideration at all in the first place.</p>
<p>The effect depends what you mean by a hard life. </p>
<p>If you mean subjection to racial prejudice, your chances may increase because of affirmative action.
If you mean economic difficulties, your chances may increase because of a desire for diversity.
If you mean a disability/hardship that one had to overcome, your chances may increase because you have an interesting essay.</p>
<p>If, however, these hardships are conveyed in a whiny, overemotional way, the outcome will be a rejection.</p>
<p>I think schools look for an interesting student body that promotes different types of learning.</p>
<p>For example, you can learn tons from the math genius and chess champion.
You can learn a lot from the ambassador’s daughter or published author.
You can also learn just as much from the kid who grew up in a neighborhood much different than yours.</p>
<p>College is about learning right?</p>
<p>And yeah, it is taken into an account. A moving story is a great addition to showing drive and intelligence.</p>
<p>For Example: A family friend attended Brown University as an undergraduate (In the 60s or 70s i think.) She had no records and no transcript (which means no standardized testing or grades). ALL she had was her essays and interview. Her story?
An international student from Vietnam who swam her way to safety during the war.</p>
<p>Pretty Epic.</p>