I’ve written my CA essay answering this prompt: The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
I’m applying to CASE and Rose-Hulman for Engineering. I’m sharing this information because my greatest failure was overcoming an initial poor grade in AP Physics and how I challenged and myself and took steps to succeed in this subject, and the lessons learned. However, I’m afraid this might be perceived as a student who can’t handle the subject matter/coursework, which is the foundation for this type of degree, and may jeopardize my chances of being accepted.
Personally, I would not use this topic, but for a different reason. I think that the essay is a really great opportunity to let your personality shine through, and since academics already make up so much of your application, it would be a waste to write about school. I’m sure you will be able to write a much more effective and memorable essay about a different topic.
Will colleges see your initial poor grade? If so, I’d recommend writing about your AP Physics experience in the Additional Information section and getting your counselor to mention it. (And if not, it may seem a bit like you are blowing things out of proportion by saying that it was your greatest failure).
OrchidBloom, thank you for your reply. As a follow-up, I compared this failure to my experiences as a competitive swimmer. Since admissions wouldn’t see my life experience as a competitive swimmer in my transcript, I thought I would weave it into my essay and relate my failure to my successes in the pool.
Yes, I think it needs to be broader then ‘one time, in this one class…’ I don’t like the idea of just talking about failure in one class as if it is something really meaningful and the greatest failure in your life. That makes you look pretty shallow as if you are not a full human boy/girl with real emotions. Now you talk about swimming, so if you can use that to make it a bit more global of a story then fine.