<p>I'm writing my personal statement for the Questbridge College Match program (deadline = October 1st, eeek!), and I was wondering if my topic is TOO depressing.</p>
<p>The topic is "Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you", and I chose to write on the effect my dad's gambling/parents' divorce has had on my life and my outlook. It's all very relevent because most of it has happened in the past three years (I'm a senior now), and the divorce is being finalized at the moment. I thought it would be a good essay because it shows 1) an adversity which has NOT affected my excellent schoolwork and 2) the effect it has had on me and how I've matured through it. </p>
<p>So the question is, is this topic too depressing? Would it have a negative impact on the reader? (Keep in mind that my conclusion is that the whole ordeal has helped me mature and has made me all the more determined to succeed, no matter what.)</p>
<p>This is a good question. Would writing about the divorce, illness, or anything of that nature be overly pitiful looking? I'm sure you don't want them to pity you, but this probably gives some insight into your character. You have to be incredibly careful with that topic.</p>
<p>Yeah, I'm not looking for a pity vote, but this IS exactly the type of 'personal adversity' that my school counselors are always emphasizing. I just hope I can pull it off without being too dark and heavy. Maybe I'll post it up here after it's done to get some more opinions?</p>
<p>It gives 500 points for a 'life altering event (foster care, death of immediate family member, personal involvement in a life trauma): 500 points'</p>
<p>You want YOURSELF to be the protagonist in your essay, especially when the topic is "Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk YOU have taken, or ethical dilemma YOU have faced and its impact on you". You don't want to be the person reacting to what someone else, i.e. your father, did-- instead, you want to be reacting to something YOU have done (reacting, reflecting, rethinking in hindsight). My advice is no, get a new topic that features you as the protagonist/person who sets things in motion.</p>
<p>I don't think the topic is too depressing. I do think you should consider another essay topic UNLESS there is something about you in the essay. If your thesis is my dad/parents f***ed up and this motivates me to do better than they have done, then I think this is a poor choice of topic. What was significant about this experience for YOU? Did you have any ethical dilemmas? (eg deciding to sever a relationship with a parent). How has your parent's divorce been an exceptional adversity to you? (eg Time management since you live at two households)</p>