<p>My dad died back in 2007, right before I entered high school. I used that for several of my essays, partially to explain my lower grades freshman year (one or two c's, the rest above). Obviously I'm not counting on it getting me in alone, but I am on the bubble for a couple schools I'm applying to and am wondering if that could be a determining factor (not so much my father having cancer and dying but the obstacles I overcame). I now have a little under a 3.7 and got a 28 on the ACT. ECs are really good, and I'm very well rounded, etc. etc. I hate using it as a sort of pity story, but I really do think it makes me who I am and should be an accredit to my personality. I just don't know if colleges will look at it the same way.</p>
<p>So basically you want to know if your father passing away will in some way or another help you get into college.</p>
<p>Yes, but don’t take it the wrong way, it’s not for pity, I’m just honestly curious if that’ll effect a colleges decision or how they look at my stats.</p>
<p>Although it might make for a good essay, which will increase your chances, I doubt that you’d have increased chances just because your father passed away. They probably read hundreds of other essays and applications from people from similar situations.</p>
<p>I’m sure such a circumstance might help explain some specific events and certainly evoke understanding. However, I’m just blown away by the number of kids on these boards alone who have suffered personal tragedies. I think adcom here many, many sad stories. Kids with cancer, losing loved ones, abused, homeless…I don’t think I’d count on it changing any outcomes.</p>
<p>2college, I agree completely. I always counted on it solely to verify my slack in grades freshman year, and have used it in college essays when I could. It’s really sad what horrible things people our age have been through in just eighteen years.</p>
<p>It has to be well wrtten and full of the right sort of insight- ie, not just why you struggled but how you eventually found the strength and inspiration to overcome. Also, remember, the GC letter will probably include something about the struggle in that period. Sorry you had to go through that.</p>
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<p>That could be taken wrongly in so many ways.</p>
<p>I very, very much doubt you were able to write a good essay about that. You should have asked your guidance counselor to address it in her recommendation, and written about something less emotionally charged for your personal essay. It’s VERY hard to write something so close to you very well-- what’s that Oscar Wilde quote about all bad writers being sincere? Your essay can also be so easily perceived as pity mongering.</p>
<p>It could have benefited you, but the way you went about it, I don’t think that it will. If anything, probably hurt.</p>
<p>Before anyone freaks you out, realize that we have not seen your essay.</p>
<p>@CBatch
Yep, it could be taken the wrong way, to which he clearly responded: “Yes, but don’t take it the wrong way”</p>
<p>I experience a similar situation when I was in 9th grade also but didn’t write it in any of my essays, also noting that I did best 9th and 10th grade. I think you should be okay writing about your situation in your essay, I doubt it will have a negative effect if any at all.</p>
<p>My dad was a single parent (birth mother whereabouts unknown) and got sick just as I started my soph year and died right before junior year. I did write my essay about him and I put the special circumstances in the common app. I just wrote that I probably could have done better but tried to take AP and Honors courses anyway…and I didn’t do a lot of ECs because I wanted to go home every day and be with my dad. It’s all the truth.</p>
<p>Yeah I feel like it had an important part in making me who I am today. I’m actually a really good writer so I know I presented my essay well and it did not seem self-pitying.</p>