Can I use a failed Relationship as challenge essay for secondaries? secondaries

[phixius12345]

Hi all, Prompt would be, Describe a major problem you have dealt with in your life. How did you deal with it and how did it influence your growth?

My question is, can I talk about a failed relationship, one that ended up not being healthy for either party?

I would highlight how I grew by realizing my own faults, etc. and made a difficult decision to end it because it was the healthiest decision for both of us. Highlighting the maturity it required as it was a very difficult decision to make, not continuing the cycle of an unhealthy relationship?

Another essay I'm considering would be how I growing up, I wasn't taught how to maintain a healthy diet or what proper nutrition was. It led to poor health, but I eventually got to a point where I knew I needed to change. So I researched proper nutrition, how to exercise etc. Ended up making weightlifting a major part of my life, which helped me in all areas.

Would really appreciate advice on this essay prompt, as I am really stuck. Thanks so much!

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[Soccer171983]

what is this essay for first off? I like the second option especially if for med school application. The first one, while it shows growth and increased maturity, might make someone wonder if you may be a risk in the class for further relationship drama/issues which could detract you from doing well. Think about this from a perspective interviewer who is looking to fill the class with diverse and intelligent people with a high likelihood of success (bad performances = bad statistics for the school which is bad publicity). I think you second example shows proactive behavior and motivated behavior, is related to preventantion over treatment for a healthy lifestyle(good primary care point), and it shows a motivated individual who could help his patients take a similar approach. These are reasonably decent spins you could take with that second topic. I do not see any obvious potential catastrophes coming out of you second option that I do in the first option. Hope this helps.

 

[phixius12345]

Thank you!

 

[phixius12345]

Bump. Can I get more opinions please 🙂

 

[darkjedi]

I'm not sure I would use your failed relationship as an essay for a number of reasons

a. it's pretty generic, it's not exactly the most groundbreaking story to talk about having to break up with your SO because you two didn't work together, pretty much everyone has had similar experiences.
b. even if you do talk about it, it makes it appear like you lack depth/perspective if that was your most major problem was having to break up with someone
c. it's a double edged sword because the factors behind the successes/failures of relationships can be construed in many ways, often differently by different people depending on their own experiences, someone may very well take offense to how you word certain things about your relationship

 

[phixius12345]

I'm not sure I would use your failed relationship as an essay for a number of reasons

a. it's pretty generic, it's not exactly the most groundbreaking story to talk about having to break up with your SO because you two didn't work together, pretty much everyone has had similar experiences.
b. even if you do talk about it, it makes it appear like you lack depth/perspective if that was your most major problem was having to break up with someone
c. it's a double edged sword because the factors behind the successes/failures of relationships can be construed in many ways, often differently by different people depending on their own experiences, someone may very well take offense to how you word certain things about your relationship

Yes I totally see what you're saying. My main issue is that my whole app is pretty much written around the fact that I grew up disadvantaged, had to overcome a lot of hardship to get to this point. I've touched on this in my secondary questions, (how my hardships have ultimately benefitted me) etc. Now for the challenge essay, I feel like I shouldn't talk more about this subject and should share a different problem.

But I could be going about this the wrong way. Do you think my second choice of learning about nutrition because I was in poor health and needed to improve it? Ended up learning the ins and outs of how to eat healthy, got very into taking care of my health and weightlifting etc.

It's been hard for me to think of problems or challenges that I've handled that haven't dealt with everything I've already talked about in my primary and in different places in my secondary. Thanks so much for the help!

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[Goro]

Hi all, Prompt would be, Describe a major problem you have dealt with in your life. How did you deal with it and how did it influence your growth?

My question is, can I talk about a failed relationship, one that ended up not being healthy for either party?

Perfectly acceptable

 

[phixius12345]

I had an applicant use a divorce in the middle of postbacc as the challenge essay. She broke down discussing it at the interview. She is now attending the school

Thanks for your input! This relationship wouldn't be a marriage. More like an unhealthy relationship that went on for years, and took a lot of growth on my part to recognize my flaws and ultimately choose what was best for both of us.

Or do you think talking about a different topic might be better? I was in poor health earlier in life because I never had guidance (family history) or instruction on how to properly eat a proper diet. Taught myself about the importance of proper nutrition and ingrained it into my life. Basically chose a healthier path for myself that was very difficult to do in the circumstances I was brought up in. And maintaining this lifestyle really helps me deal with other challenges I've encountered thus far.

Anyway, could really use your input as I'm kind of stuck on this. Thanks so much!

 

[phixius12345]

I prefer the relationship one. My suggestion is to first write as if no one else will read it, let all of it out, then take the ideas make a professional coherent essay from it

Can I get your opinion on another possible option? Growing up, my mom developed symptoms of schizophrenia (undiagnosed) but very apparent. Would it be acceptable to talk about this and how I dealt with it and grew from it? Or do you think that it would be better to stick with the relationship topic? Thanks so much!