<p>Well It's coming to the time when I need to start thinking about what my personal statement is going to be on. When I really think about something that I've struggled with for a long time and had to overcome, in all honestly the first thing that comes to my mind is my height! I'm a rising Senior in high school and just barely 5'4", and I used to be picked on occasionally for my height when I was younger, but more importantly its a matter of respect for me. If my essay was going to be about my height, I would likely want to write about how I've had to gain respect from other kids through my personality or by demonstrating my intelligence to make up for my very un-authoritative stature, and how that's made me better myself as a person and become more sociable and open-minded.</p>
<p>So what do you guys think? Is this way too superficial of a topic, or something that is suitably personal for a personal statement. I feel like it would be an easy topic to write completely honestly about.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I think written in the correct way, it could be a decent topic. That being said, there are many other topics that would be just as good, if not better, and would not be quite as much a risk. And if this gives you any insight, the first thing I thought when I read the topic was “Wow this person is really superficial!”</p>
<p>Somehow, you’re suposed to convey qualities that give adcoms a sense you can tackle challenges there, have fun and engage, be open-minded, flexible and more. I also had the initial reaction, Oh, Gawd. But, from the way you describe your ideas here, I think you could do it. Try to end with how the experience empowered you (not just won you social standing) and made you sensitive to others. Dont let it just be your intelligence and personality- those can seem a little braggish. Make it all make the right kind of sense. Remember the right balance of “show, not tell.”</p>
<p>Virtually any topic is viable; it depends on how you execute it.
For example, this essay from Johns Hopkins is exactly on the topic you were talking about!
[Johns</a> Hopkins University Office of Undergraduate Admissions - Apply - Essays That Worked](<a href=“http://apply.jhu.edu/apply/essays.html#essay2]Johns”>http://apply.jhu.edu/apply/essays.html#essay2)
This girl wrote about her hair:
[Johns</a> Hopkins University Office of Undergraduate Admissions - Apply - Essays That Worked](<a href=“http://apply.jhu.edu/apply/essays.html#essay3]Johns”>http://apply.jhu.edu/apply/essays.html#essay3)
both were accepted!
And I definitely agree with the other CCers; it’s not the actual obstacle, it’s about how you grew from it. I think this is from the UVa adcom, but something like, “it should be like a nike ad” brief and intense, not like a documentary.
To be honest though, neither of these 2 essays were my favorite. I liked the height essay better though. but i think you could run with the topic!</p>
<p>I wrote my college essay on being short (I’m 4’9). There is nothing wrong with writing your statement about your short stature as long as you portray yourself correctly. Don’t dwell on the fact that you are short. You want write about how you overcame certain obstacles and most importantly what you gained from overcoming those challenges. How have the obstacles you’ve faced shape you as the person you are today? What did you gained from these challenges?</p>
<p>In my essay i talked about how it was hard to gain respect from other adults (especially teachers). I worked hard in school and proved to my teachers that there isn’t a correlation between and height and ability or intelligence. </p>
<p>You can PM if you need any advice. I can also go into more detail about how I wrote my personal statement.</p>