I’ve always had a severe stutter since I was able to speak. Naturally, it’s a big part of my life. So, to stand out, I’ve been pondering whether or not to write my college essay about the challenges I’ve faced and how I don’t let my stutter hinder me. Is this topic too personal for a college essay and would the admissions committees make the assumption that I’m dumb because I stutter?
I would assume college admissions officers are educated and understand that differences among people do not mean they are dumb. In my opinion if you can write a great essay about your journey with stuttering and how you’re happy and have achieved in spite of it, I think it could be very effective. To me, what makes people special and great are those who use whatever tools are given to them to the best of their advantage. I am certainly not an admissions expert but your topic caught my attention an made me interested. Maybe it will do the same with your application.
I don’t think there are any topics that are “too personal” for the essay. It’s all about how you make yourself come across. This is coming from someone who wrote about a death in the family, which everyone says not to do, but I made it work. You can make yours work too.
And no, they would not think you are dumb unless you sound dumb in your essay.
It sounds like it could be a fine topic if you do it well. Just avoid any “woe is me” and focus on the positives – how you overcame it, what you learned, how it made you a stronger person, how it may have impacted what you want to do going forward etc. No educated person would think that a stutter equates to not being smart.
Agree with all three responses above.