I'm really conflicted, please help!

<p>So this kind of falls under both financial aid and college admission, but I thought it would be most appropriate here. Anyway...in order for these questions to make sense, I think it'll be smart to explain my financial and childhood situation. I've grown up in an extremely poor, single mother household (my mom barely makes over poverty level). Also I've had, I guess you could call an abusive childhood with an alcoholic mother. With that, I'm currently a junior and I've started to have a slew of questions. First, is it appropriate to talk about...my childhood. I mean I don't intend to turn my entire essay into a sob story (because I've heard admission boards HATE that), but my childhood had such a huge impact on who I am today, that I feel like I have to mention it. Further, is it even appropriate to mention financial situations in admission essays? I know some of the Ivies are need-blind, so does mentioning financial status violate their system or something? I don't really know how to approach any of this, but I wouldn't even be applying to these schools had my mother not...I guess you could say inspired me to improve my life and make something of myself. Any advise is welcome. Thank you so much!</p>

<p>It’s a good topic, a topic that can be developed into a successful essay. You should emphasize on the inspiring part and the hindrances you encountered. Do not, however, write a mellow essay and try to be as objective as possible about your mother.</p>

<p>I think Ivies love sob stories. Everyone loves sob stories. What is important is that its not a shallow story that you try to make into a sob story, e. g., “When I went to Haiti for two weeks, my life was changed!” because that’s the sort of essay they get a HUGE volume of.</p>

<p>If you write something emotional and open, and make sure to focus it on how your experiences have impacted your **future<a href=“and%20that%20part%20is%20important”>/B</a>, you’ll have a great essay. For me, it would seem the best way for you to judge an essay like that is to see whether sharing your story simultaneously makes you feel better and more vulnerable. And, importantly, that it tells the admissions officers how you’ll take your experiences and use them in the future.</p>

<p>Then again, what do I know. I have no inside info. Maybe they love hearing about all those two-week mission trips.</p>

<p>haha alright thanks! I agree, I hate those “2 weeks” kinda stories…mine definitely isn’t that shallow, but at the same time, I guess I kinda feared that even my story is too generic. but hey, what do I know =P…anyone else? possibly someone with firsthand experience with essays of an emotional nature?</p>

<p>If it’s a “poor me” essay, don’t write it. That will not help with your college admissions.</p>

<p>If your essay is about how you overcame challenges and then were inspired to help others, then it could be an excellent essay - particularly if because of your experiences you really have taken actions to help others or are planning to work in some field that would help others in situations similar to what you endured.</p>

<p>Fine to describe being poor if, again, the emphasis is on how you overcame those challenges or how that challenge inspired you.</p>

<p>K. great. that’s kinda what I was hoping to hear. I’m definitely not going for the “poor me” route, I just wanted to make sure that was acceptable. Thanks again!</p>

<p>Have you looked into the Questbridge program? Some of the sample essays on the website helped me so much in formulating my own essays. (Not that I have abusive family or anything, but I learned that it is definitely okay to talk about financial situations and how it affects you if that is something important in your life.)</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.questbridge.org/students/program.htm[/url]”>http://www.questbridge.org/students/program.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Sample essays you can check out:</p>

<p>[QuestBridge:</a> Applying to College](<a href=“http://www.questbridge.org/resources/applying/essays_sample.html]QuestBridge:”>http://www.questbridge.org/resources/applying/essays_sample.html)</p>

<p>(The last two longer ones were especially great! Don’t be afraid to take a risk.)</p>

<p>orten777, why do you always put that link at your post?</p>

<p>I know it’s none of my business, but I think that will hurt many.</p>

<p>Good for you, first of all!
Everyone loves an inspirational story and it sounds as though you have come out on top. You have had a tough life to overcome already and I think once you state your hardships in your essay as background information (because they need to know where you came from) them write about your hopes and dreams as you are accomplishing them, well, it is almost like a movie!! I know I love to see people come out on top after they have had so many rough things to deal with throughout their life…the rough times you are dealt, make you really appreciate all the successes you deserve.
Good luck and I think you should go for it!</p>