<p>Hello again!
For a few months now I have been wrestling with the question of what to include in my essays - but I've come to the conclusion that I need some second opinions about what is or is not appropriate/comfortable.
About a year ago, there was a major family tragedy. I don't want to go into details, but in short, it was something that's proved to have drastically shaped my worldview and my perspective on life - and needless to say, the immediate effect on me was one of deep melancholy and confusion, a side of myself that isn't typical and that I don't want to present as pervasive.
My only hesitation is that writing about something like this might seem a) too personal or b) too whiny. I'm worried about coming off as a number of things: dramatic, attention-seeking, too forward - I mean, my gut reaction is that this is something that should be kept at least moderately private, that it's too important and terrible to air so willingly.
So, in short: is this an okay topic, and, if so, how best should I approach it?
As always, thank you!</p>
<p>I think it seems like a perfectly appropriate topic, if it really shaped your worldview, but you might run into a snag as you try and fit it under 250 words.</p>
<p>At any rate, I think only you can decide if you’re comfortable sharing it, but if you’re worried about sounding too whiny, a good solution is to focus on how what happened is going to change how you act in the future, and all the things you learned from it that would never have happened otherwise, and in general that silver lining on the cloud.</p>
<p>I wrote a very, very raw and personal essay for the common app, and I fully intend to use it on my MIT essay. All I am doing, is answering the question truthfully. In fact, as it deals with a highly emotional situation, (child abuse), I think it frames my improvements and achievements in a whole new way. Being honest does not equal whiny. But I definitely agree that it will be hard fitting it into 250 words.</p>
<p>I wrote about something very personal and how it changed me as well. If its the choice between something personal and something forced, go for the personal. If they don’t like you for it, then its probably for the best as you wouldn’t want to go to a school that can’t accept it.</p>
<p>I think it’s a decision only you can make…if you feel that it shaped your life hugely and you’re okay with sharing it and you can really put emotion into your essay, go for it.</p>
<p>I think as long as you’re comfortable with sharing it, it should be fine. I would say write it and re-read it before you send it in, and if you find yourself squirming at the idea of someone else reading it, don’t force yourself to submit it.</p>
<p>I’m sure you want to focus on the long-lasting impact rather than your immediate reaction. It didn’t sound whiny in the OP, so you seem pretty level-headed about it. 
I think you can pull it off!</p>
<p>I would agree, and of course you can also potentially elaborate on it, if you feel comfortable doing so, at the interview, where there isn’t a word limit. But make that decision after taking a judgment about your EC, after meeting or at least corresponding with them, and how you think that they will view it.</p>
<p>it’s not too personal or too whiny
i want to use a really personal essay for MIT too…but there a 250 word limit, so it’d be really hard to convey in only 250 words</p>
<p>@ Elanorci, if you can actually put the ‘family tragedy’ and ‘worldview change’ into words … without exceeding word limit (note: the MIT online app doesnt let submit your essay if u exceed the limit by i think 50 words at the max) I’d say go for it. Because, that particular experience would truly be yours. And the way you viewed it, your perspective, would be unique. Isn’t that the type of stuff we want in our essays? </p>
<p>Personally, I admire your efforts to put family situations in words. I tried to write one…one that I felt deeply about (too deeply, thinking in retrospect). I never could finish it, I just felt it would somehow turn into a sterotypical sob story essay. Instead, I spoke about my passion (yea, that word) and interests and how they were shaped. And I included the family-situation (i’d rather not call it a tragedy) as one of the ‘shaping factors’. </p>
<p>Hope my post helps. All the best. If you’d like someone else’s opinion on your essay once you finish it, I’d be willing to help/edit.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the feedback, everyone!
After all the positive responses, I’ve decided to give it a go. The word count will be a slight problem… But at this point I’m just thinking of it as a challenge to be overcome. 
And R-DNA, I’ll probably take you up on that offer. Thanks. (:</p>
<p>By reputation, MIT doesn’t hold too closely to the word count limit; you can go over some, just not excessively (no definition for exactly how much over; sorry!).</p>