personal experience

College Essays
1

<p>Hello all!
Earlier this summer, I was diagnosed with cancer and am currently undergoing chemotherapy & all that. I am also going to be a senior (WOOO! :D) in high school. As I thought about my plans for the next few months, I thought I'd get started on my college apps.
For my essay, can I or should I incorporate my fight with cancer? If so, how? I'm thinking that the college admissions person may treat me as an "at-risk" student. But at the same time, I think my personal experience would be pretty unique and I can bring a new perspective to the university.</p>

<p>Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! </p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

2

<p>They are going to have to know that you have cancer, so there is no point in leaving it out, because of “at-risk” status.</p>

3

<p>what exactly does it mean and imply if you are an ‘at-risk’ student?</p>

4

<p>I’m sorry to learn of your illness.</p>

<p>The topic of your main essay should be whatever allows you to write your most personal, detailed, and * revealing* essay, an essay that is so you that no one else could write it. The topic of such an essay may or may not pertain to cancer; only you can know what topic will work best for you.</p>

<p>Whatever you choose to write about, the main thrust of the essay should not be your personal circumstances; rather, it should be to give a sense of the sort of person, classmate, roommate, community member you are and can be.</p>

<p>You will also have the option of submitting a supplementary statement. The purpose of such a statement is to allow an applicant to discuss unusual personal situations, such as illnesses. Imo, this option is worthy of serious consideration; it allows you to write whatever seems best to you in the main essay, while still getting across what you wish to say about cancer.</p>

<p>There is good advice about college essays at:</p>

<p>[Essays</a>, Admission Information, Undergraduate Admission, U.Va.](<a href=“http://www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/writingtheessay.html]Essays”>http://www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/writingtheessay.html)</p>

<p>Also, aim to Show, don’t Tell:</p>

<p>[Show</a>, don’t tell](<a href=“http://users.wirefire.com/tritt/tip1.html]Show”>http://users.wirefire.com/tritt/tip1.html)</p>

5

<p>Thank you ADad for the advice & links.
I think I might describe how this whole event affected me as a person (like my character, qualities & such).
If I do choose to include a supplement, what are some possible topics in my case? Would a description of the whole process be appropriate?</p>