<p>I wonder if anyone has some advice for me. From what I've heard, admissions officers don't like personal essays being TOO personal, to the point where they feel slightly uncomfortable reading them.</p>
<p>My problem is that my views on things, my values, my decision for what I want to do with my life and what I want to study in college, have all been shaped by one rather tragic and violent event in my childhood. Part of my hesitation is that I don't feel comfortable sharing something so personal with anyone, let alone complete strangers. In another sense, it also almost feels disrespectful to use this event in an essay just to help me get into college.</p>
<p>But then again, if I really want to explain who I am, what I care about, and why I have made certain choices about my future, it's impossible to leave this out.</p>
<p>So what should I do? Write about it, or not?</p>
<p>Anyone has a essay on "Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.". I am writing one similar subject. If anyone has please pm me and I will pm mine</p>
<p>irmentis_python: I think that if you feel it's impossible to leave it out, then you should write about it.</p>
<p>BUT if you feel EXTREMELY uncomfortable sharing this experience, then I think it would be best not too.</p>
<p>As for whether or not it's disrespectful, I really think only you can know if it is. I don't see anything wrong with sharing such a life-changing experience if it has shaped who you are and why you want to go to college. But if you're someone who's really just throwing it in there as a 'look at me!' type-of-thing then I can see why you would view it as disrespectful.</p>
<p>From the way you've talked in your post though, I don't think that's what you're trying to do but again...only you know if you're writing about it for the right reasons.</p>
<p>Then again, wanting to get into college and trying to have the best possible application that you can, isn't a wrong reason either but I digress...</p>
<p>Basically, share it if you think it's vital in giving the admissions officers a clear picture of who YOU are.</p>
<p>A friend of mine wrote hers about her struggle with anorexia, and it was personal and hard for her, but that experience did shape the person she is now as she looks to go off to college and it was just something she felt she needed to share...so that they could understand where she was coming from.</p>
<p>I recall when I was visiting U Chicago the admission rep discussed the personal statement - although they want to see what makes you unique - I'd be very careful about talking about diseases like anorexia, etc. that can = a liability to the school or possibly impede your ability to be a successful student. They want you to be personal, but this isn't a tell-all spill-your-guts kind of statement. They wanted it to show depth, intelligence, creativity and your ability to write in an interesting fashion. They gave a couple of examples of BAD personal statements - one guy wrote about how he was interested in that date-rape drug and how is effects women, and someone else wrote about their unbalanced mental state and serious phobias - bad idea - and the admissions rep said these were incredible students (on paper). There is something about you that makes you cool and makes you a great fit - tell them about that!</p>
<p>I feel its not the wisest choice to write the personal statement on one of my EC's. They already know. Some colleges specify that not to write on your typical EC's</p>