<p>The essay topic for a school I am applying to tells to describe a meaningful event, experience, or accomplishment and how it will affect your college experience or your contribution to the UF campus community. Then says some stuff about how you can "reflect" on family school yatta yatta. </p>
<p>What I want to know is if I wrote an essay about my experience with my Grandfather who had cancer and did die who attended UF and always wanted me to go to UF and how we went to football games there together and how that experience since that time has made me always want to go to the school which can tie in to affecting college experience. This happened in middle school too. I am worried that they think it might be made up for one but it actually isn't and if playing the "sympathy" card does more harm than good?</p>
<p>I'd say grandfather is stretching (yes, mine died of cancer recently, yes, I practically lived at his place, went to work with him, swam with him, listened with great interest to his stories... yes, I was devastated, no I didn't write about it.)</p>
<p>Were it your parents, sibling or best friend, then that's a different thing.</p>
<p>But don't take my word for it: just know that out of all the high school students applying to college, a very very large percentage of them are likely to have lost a grandparent. Also know that some of those playing the sympathy card will have lost both parents (possibly in terrorist or militia attacks they were forced to watch), been hunted in their home country, saw their brothers die or something similarly horrible.</p>
<p>If you feel you can write something so meaningful that it can set you apart of those, then go ahead.</p>
<p>Yes I know most people have lost a grandparent but I was just considering it since he went to the school I am applying to and we have to tie in our experience back to the school. Thanks for the help</p>
<p>My essay for MIT was primarily about my late grandfather attending (but not being able to afford to graduate) and his influence on my life. I would definitely recommend it - I felt good about my essay after writing it.</p>
<p>It should be fine as long as it shows why you're the type of person the college wants. It's easy to get off topic with these matters. As for sympathy, just don't write "My grandfather died so you should admit me". Instead, try "My grandfather died but everything he taught me lives on inside me and I'll take it where ever I go in life" or something like that.</p>