<p>I have read about many circumstances on here in which students write essays on the death of, say, a grandparent; it is often used as an excuse (one I don't buy at all in most circumstances) to explain poor grades as well. </p>
<p>What could one write on this that a college would find valuable? Both my grandma and grandpa on my mom's side died when I was five years old, and it never once crossed my mind to write on this. It seems like it is playing the sympathy card, and I don't see how it reflects on the writer. Does anyone disagree with me, and why?</p>
<p>Because students are often coached into writing about challenges they’ve overcome; they are told this is appealing to admission committees. Most suburban kids don’t have anything to write about in this department, but just about everyone has had a grandparent pass away, so it’s a popular choice.</p>
<p>If I were you I would avoid it like the plague; write about something completely unique to you, not something that could apply to anyone.</p>
<p>My grandmother had custody of me when she died because she adopted me out of foster care. I had to move and switch schools. I suppose I could make something out of that but I don’t really want to.</p>
<p>I myself wrote about the death of grandparents though it was a brief explanation of why I chose to attend my current college and why I was transferring. </p>
<p>If you really feel it impacted your life and everything up to now- do it.</p>
<p>“What could one write on this that a college would find valuable?”</p>
<p>It depends. Many students are instructed to write about challenges they have faced, and the death of a loved one is one of the go-to challenges. It’s a bit cliched of course (though not as cliched as the “summer camp” article), but it can be done well if you “be yourself.” Here, that means, write a genuine reflective essay that’s a non stereotypical take on a stereotypical subject.</p>
<p>As a more direct answer to your question, the death of a loved one is a great emotional hurdle for most people. With grandparents in particular, it’s often the first time teens are confronted with the mortality of those around them as well as their own mortality. It can cause a significant stir in character in some people that could be good to write about.</p>
<p>“Both my grandma and grandpa on my mom’s side died when I was five years old, and it never once crossed my mind to write on this.”</p>
<p>That’s simply because you wouldn’t have anything to write about. I’m sure it would cross your mind if you were very close to them and they died when you were in high school as opposed to kindergarten.</p>
<p>“It seems like it is playing the sympathy card, and I don’t see how it reflects on the writer.”</p>
<p>I’m going to disagree. Like I said before, you have no idea what it’s like to lose a grandparent who you were close to. And saying that people who write about that just to play the sympathy card is a little dense and unsympathetic as death brings about significant changes in the lives of people who feel the ripple affects the most. I seriously doubt the sympathy card would even work since it’s such a common subject anyone.</p>
<p>College essays are about being reflective. Death is often a time when teens reflect of things around them, so this is a rather natural thing to write about.</p>