I’m working on my UC Personal Insight Question and am answering the one that wants you to describe the most significant challenge you’ve ever experienced. I want to write about how my dad left when I was 7 years old and that although I thought I wouldn’t amount to anything if he didn’t believe so, I eventually realized that I did not need a father to believe in me, I only needed to believe in myself. Is this ok? I read online that it was a big red flag to write about family tragedies or events. If it is ok, would it also be fine to go more in detail in my common app essay? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
You may want to check out this thread of consolidated essay readers. There are some extremely seasoned folks there who can give you some advice. Please know, you can’t send a PM (as in your essay for proofreading) until you have at least 15 posts here.
I recall one admin official telling a group of parents/prospective applicants at an information session that “A winning essay can be about absolutely any topic, but there are also plenty of cliché, terrible essays written by schmucks every year - so don’t be a schmuck, just write a good one”
If you think you’re unique because your dad left you, it’s not as uncommon as you think. But I admire your believing in yourself - it is that positive attitude that will help you through life.
Admin officials don’t care what particular challenges you have faced - nor do they compare them to others - what they care about is that you write well, you tell a story that is genuine, and shows them why you belong at their school.
Best of luck to you