<p>One of the prompts required for transfer asks to describe how an important experience has influenced me.</p>
<p>Basically, I wanted to write about how getting rejected hit me hard and really impacted my life.</p>
<p>Would that not be the best topic to write about? Should I refrain from mentioning it? I'm aware that they would probably know that I've been rejected, regardless of whether I mention it or not, but I'm not sure if it would hurt to mention that I've been rejected in the past.</p>
<p>It honestly seems to be the most influential experience I've ever had, and I feel that I could write a strong personal statement regarding the matter.</p>
<p>Well, one of the first year common app prompts is to reflect on a time when you experienced failure and how that changed and influenced you. I think, handled in the right way, it’s a powerful message.</p>
<p>I would not talk about it – hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of students get rejected by their dream school every year, and even if your case of rejection is sincerely stand-out (for example, you were hospitalized because of it [extreme], or whatever it is), the premise in itself is kind of a turn-off, I think.</p>
<p>Imagine an admissions board reading your essay, noting that your most life-changing moment was getting rejected from a college. That doesn’t sound particularly promising, and I think it’s not worth the risk.</p>
<p>It might help if you elaborated a little more on what the impact was – maybe our minds will change when we learn you went out of your way to do x-y-z as a result of being rejected, and this is something very impressive on your resume.</p>
<p>I don’t think explaining it here would change your opinions, especially since I think you guys are right. Thanks, glad I won’t waste time writing a potentially negative essay haha.</p>