Challenge Essay--Too personal?

[ambam]

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So, there are two essay's I'm looking at going, well I have something to say, but can I say it without ****ing my secondary apps? One is the optional "Is there anything in your application you would like to explain to us?" and the other is a "Challenge you have overcome?"

I feel I should I address the first question because I had a 1.71 gpa during my freshman year of college. There were a lot of factors (the standard bigger school than my hometown, moving away from home, living in a dorm, adjusting to setting my own schedule...etc) but the real issue I had was due to PTSD, depression, anxiety and an ongoing court case back home (VT) while I was attending school (KS) involving me, as the victim of sexual abuse at the hands of an older brother.

I'm not sure its possible to talk about "overcoming" this/these challenges with out either mentioning mental/emotional breakdown and rebuilding or the court case/abuse. I can probably come up with some other challenge (not a great one, but something) but there is no other way to explain my abysmal first semester. Any suggestions on how to approach such a sensitive topic? It was almost 10 years ago now and I'm as recovered as I'll ever be (I still take an antidepressant, but no PTSD symptoms for nearly 6 years). I'd like to talk about all the tools I have now for dealing with stressful situations and how my knowledge of the courts, law enforcement, mental health treatment, etc will assist with treating patients; and that I know my bottom and I have build up the strength to succeed from it. Too personal a topic or something I can pull off?

If you want to help with the actual essay I am happy to PM it to you.

I am also a non-trad student and completed a post-bacc to raise my gpa and am now in a MA in Biology program while I apply.

Thanks for the advice,

Ambam

 

[red7]

Hey I don't have an answer to your question, but I just wanted to suggest that you edit out the actual essay from your post, especially before someone quotes it and it's stuck up there forever. It seems like really personal and really identifiable information - or maybe I'm just really uptight about sharing information online ...

 

[ambam]

Good catch. I de-id'd the essay. Although I'm not listed in the court records except by initials, so finding the case is a lot harder than you'd think....(besides, what do I have to hide, I was the Victim).

 

[angldrps]

Hey I don't have an answer to your question, but I just wanted to suggest that you edit out the actual essay from your post, especially before someone quotes it and it's stuck up there forever. It seems like really personal and really identifiable information - or maybe I'm just really uptight about sharing information online ...

OP, I suggest you follow this advice. Its better to PM stuff like this if you really need someone on SDN to guide you.

 

[ambam]

I still think you two are overreacting...but I pulled the essay itself. Any thoughts on the essay topic(s)?

 

[Moosepig]

Hmm. You are in quite a spot. In one way I think including that in your secondary could actually benefit you, since overcoming that and still pursuing medicine shows a TON of dedication. I do see your fear about it being too personal. But, I mean, they do ask for your biggest challenge, and should be willing to get what anyone's biggest challenge is.

I don't know, perhaps you could include it in half of your secondaries and half not? Sort of a safer route. Sorry I can't give you any advice with experience behind it, hopefully an adcom can give their impression.

 

[zedonks]

I thought that your essay posted was really well written and presented your experiences clearly without being too personal/ uncomfortable. After reading your story I feel that you are a strong person and truly have moved beyond such a horrible event, and I imagine that an adcom would feel a similar way after reading your essay.
On a more personal note, I find your story inspiring and thank you for sharing. Best wishes to you!

 

[PingPongPro]

I actually had a chance to read the essay you posted before you edited. Its such a sensitive topic and does seem relevant to mention on secondaries especially since it did affect your GPA. I think you did a good job not being too personal on the details, but explaining the traumatic impact it had on you. I think you could maybe benefit by explaining a little more because there is still a lot of vague parts. Obviously its hard to find the right balance between vague/specifics, but just keep refining it.

Personally, I also felt that you should put way more focus on what you did to overcome the challenges and how you have grown. You put a lot of emphasis on the event and the outcome, but that just makes them feel sorry for you rather than highlighting your strong points. The actual challenge itself isn't the important part of the essay, so make sure you highlight your personal qualities and how it will make you a better physician in the future.

I think it would be wise to not mention that you still take antidepressant medication. It can be viewed negatively and doesn't help you as an applicant. You can talk about overcoming adversity and being familiar with stressful situations.Try to talk about what you personally did to move on instead of how outside forces affected you.

My heart goes out to you. I'm sure it must have been difficult for you in the past. Topics like this will depend heavily on how you portray it, so it could be good to get other people's opinions on the specific essay. Good luck.

 

[ambam]

Hi all,

I'm a bit stuck...I want to show how I've learned/grown from the experience, and talk of how I got through it, but I don't think that talking about group counseling or visualization techniques is going to do much other than make adcoms wonder if I'm capable of handling school....Are general statements like ".I am a stronger person than I was at 18, with more compassion, courage, and determination than I would have believed possible." too vague and cliche or acceptable?

ambam

I hate writing about myself....
.

 

[red7]

I would try to use those adjectives throughout your essay and back them up with examples. A sentence full of superlatives at the end of a paragraph won't have as much strength as demonstrated evidence. I can't remember your essay too clearly anymore, but those all seem like qualities that would be backed up by different aspects of the story you provided

 

[red7]

I hate writing about myself....

Join the club haha

 

[Geebeejay]

Sounds like a traumatic, sensitive situation...I think this is definitely valid secondary material, and I think you can be as specific and personal as you want to be, as long as you don't cast yourself in a negative light. I.E. you might not want to mention the anti-depressant medication, PTSD or depression, because these things might yield red flags that you might not be emotionally strong enough to be a good physicians, or that you might let these experiences get in the way of treating some patients (i.e. treating rapists, or domestically abusive men). I'm not saying that you aren't emotionally strong enough, but you don't want to make ADCOMs doubt your strength. Instead, focus on your recovery and reasons why the experience made you stronger. Otherwise, if you spin it right, I think these would be strong secondary essays, and I think the more personal the better.

 

[ss883]

I agree with Geebeejay. My father is doctor and when I asked him about mentioning getting psychiatric help in the secondaries he flat out said "no one wants a crazy doctor." Not that your crazy by any means but mental stability is huge and being super open about the situation and the PTSD would make an adcom question your stability in the future. Talk about what happened briefly and focus on how you personally grew from the situation and what exactly about that situation is going to make you a better doctor.

 

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