<p>Is this a bad idea? I do not want to sounds pathetic, but tribulations have molded the person I am now. To leave them out would be an injustice.
Will Harvard and my other schools think less of me for mentioning certain things? Will they think I'm some Dawn Loggins wannabe? </p>
<p>Please help. T_T</p>
<p>They definitely won’t think less of you! </p>
<p>Any topic is fine, and considering the number of applicants out there, every topic is also incredibly over-done 
Most people will tell you not to write essays on sad things because the writing then starts to get sappy and overbearing and since admissions has to read a lot of those, they just get irritated in general xD But, if you can write it well, an essay on your personal growth can be incredibly moving.</p>
<p>It’ll either go really well or really poorly. Give it a try! And just make sure you get a fresh eye to give you some feedback :)</p>
<p>Thank you!
I’ll definitely write in such a way where I evince my dedication to my dreams. I MUSTN’T allow any sappy vibes to show through, lol. </p>
<p>It’ll be interesting finding a proof reader considering all of the personal information I’ll be including. I’ll manage. Thanks again!
<em>^▁^</em></p>
<p>“tribulations have molded the person I am now.”</p>
<p>Any topic is fine for an essay, but it’s the approach that matters. Colleges don’t want to hear about all the sad things that have happened to you – not Harvard; not anyone. They want to hear how you have overcome adversity in spite of your tribulations.</p>
<p>I often advise people not to write their only essay on overcoming hardship. If you’ve overcome hardships, it’s good to have an essay on that. Some people aren’t comfortable doing that and just let their GC talk about it, but I think it’s usually good to do it oneself also. But, imo, it’s usually good to have that be one of two essays. The way I think about it is that main point of your main essay should be who you are, why you are awesome, and why you will be an interesting or funny or productive or charitable or whatever member of the incoming freshman class. You can accomplish that through an essay on hardship, sure, but I think it’s harder to accomplish “I am a person you want at your college” and “what I have come through to become that person” in the same essay. A hardship-only essay, even one that steers clear of all sappiness, runs the risk of falling into “ah, wow, it’s really impressive how X applicant got through those challenges and became the person they are today. I’m not really clear on who that person is, though, besides a resilient one.” It can certainly be done, but sometimes it’s easier to have both a non-hardship essay (on why you really want to become a fungus biologist and how you love doing field work on funguses in Appalachia or whatever–anything can be interesting!) and one that says “and I have gotten through all these life problems so I have become resilient and that will also serve me well in life, I hope.” I used that two-essay approach myself. It’s not necessarily the best approach, but it’s a good option to consider once you’ve finished your adversity essay and see what you think of it. Harvard’s application always has a “supplemental essay” section, and you, having overcome stuff, can pitch yourself twice. Some people shouldn’t write a supplemental essay, if they’ve covered everything they wanted without it. If you have hardships to discuss, though, a second essay lets you offer both the reasons a person who didn’t know about your hardships would think were why you were admitted and the fact that you also have more depth than that.</p>
<p>*sound Ew. Typos.</p>
<p>@exultationsy</p>
<p>Thank you for your advice. Perhaps I’ll write my first essay on why I want to become a doctor and the second one will be on hardships. I’ve also written a small explanation detailing why I’m taking a gap year as well as why I did not take any AP tests senior year.</p>
<p>This shall be difficult. When they reject me, I’ll completely understand why. Lol.</p>
<p>@gibby </p>
<p>I’ll make sure it isn’t a sob story! Thank you!</p>
<p>I think you’re missing my point. Anyone can write an essay about their hardships and dreams and not make it a sob story. To make your essay compelling and to stand out from the crowd, you need to demonstrate that whatever life has thrown at you, you have succeeded despite that hardship. Read the examples at the bottom of this page: [Essays</a>, Admission Information, Undergraduate Admission, U.Va.](<a href=“http://www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/writingtheessay.html]Essays”>http://www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/writingtheessay.html)</p>
<p>Ah, I see.</p>
<p>What would suffice as proof of success?</p>
<p>One of my favorite admissions quotes is from a book called What You Don’t Know Can Keep You Out Of College by Don Dunbar.</p>
<p>“If the admissions office door has four locks on it, the first two keys are test scores and school record, and the third is special talent or some other accomplishment or quality. What is the fourth key? It’s “character.” An old fashioned word, it means the way you develop your inner qualities: intellectual passion, maturity, social conscience, concern for community, tolerance, inclusiveness.”</p>
<p>There are many ways to find and define success. If you can define it for yourself, and write about it by ‘showing, not telling’ you will have created a powerful essay that will let the reader see into your soul. It’s not easy, but the writing process never is!</p>
<p>Showing, not telling.</p>
<p>This seems super difficult. I’m open to the challenge. Thanks so much for your input. The article you posted helps tremendously. ≧﹏≦</p>
<p>I shall work hard. :-D</p>
<p>Do you know what the difference is between a good sob story and a good uplifting story? Nothing if they’re both good. It’s not what you write, it’s how you write it.</p>
<p>I see.</p>
<p><em>sigh</em> At least I know now that writing about hardships isn’t wholly inappropriate.</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone! </p>
<p>:-D</p>