I’m currently a junior in high school and starting to write my essays for the common app. In middle school I was sexually harassed by another student for months. As a result, I was changed as a person: changed how I dressed, I developed social anxiety, and I was really embarrassed of the whole situation and felt like it was my fault. I also feared for my life at times because this student had threatened to bring a weapon to school. Is this an appropriate essay to write for a college application or would the application committees be put off by it. Also, should I try to find better examples of how it affected me?
How does this make an admission officer want you on their campus?
Find another topic. Although this clearly affected you deeply and shaped who you are today, this is poison in a college application.
A rather dangerous topic to write for applications
Let me begin by saying how sorry I am that this happened to you. School should be a safe place-- no kid should go through what you discuss. I’m hoping you have been getting therapy to help you deal with it all.
But as a college essay topic? A bad idea for a number of reasons.
But first and foremost: the point behind this essay is not true confessions. It’s not to engender sympathy, though your story does.
The point is to show them why they should say yes to your application-- to show that you’re going to succeed in their school and that you’re the kind of kid they want on their campus.
Your essay will not do that.