"Challenge" essay troubles...could use some advice.

[mskk]

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[red10]

So, I'm sitting on my Chicago and Northwestern secondaries for two reasons: 1. they're long-shots, and 2. they both have a required "challenge" essay. I am having some serious issues with this essay, which I'll eventually need for Loyola and Minnesota, too.

The problem: I have had a relatively conflict-free life (...ohhh, this process). The only real non-academic challenges I've had (adjusting to college, balancing work/school/sports/extracurriculars, etc) just about everyone else has had, too, and I would have to seriously inflate their importance.

There is one possibility: I'm the stereotypical middle-class white girl, Type A personality, who has recovered from an eating disorder. Granted it played a HUGE role in my life for quite a few years, but I roll my eyes just thinking about using this for a secondary topic and can see any admissions committee doing the same.

So I guess my question is, would it be better to write about a health problem at the risk of sounding exploitative/whiny, or to just suck it up and BS an answer like everybody else?

If its really the only challenge you've faced (you've never struggled for anything? never had a family crisis?) then it might be your best topic to talk about. As long as you write well and don't whine you'll be fine. Just focus your essay on how you coped and what you learned from the experience.
I've thought about writing about my struggle with depression but since I have another challenge to talk about I avoided it. Plus I really hate talking about it if I don't have to

 

[Mattabet]

It depends. You can paint yourself into a corner really fast though if you try to inflate a situation into a serious challenge for essay purposes if you don't really believe it was. If you can write passionately about the eating disorder, it could be a good essay. But given that it popped into your head after 'adjusting to college, etc', I'm not sure that will be the case (at that point it depends if you're a good enough writer to fool them).

I think the safer route is to pick something like adjusting to college or balancing school and work. Are they unique challenges? Not really. But if they were challenges for you, they meet the prompt and will allow you to write honestly, which is important for the essay. And I feel like the solid, honest essay is the key here. Adcoms are going to care as much about how you met the challenge than what the challenge specifically was.

At the end of the day, it's your decision. Go with your gut, and write about a challenge you can be honest about.

 

[TopSecret]

Whatever you do, do not mention a psychiatric illness in the essay. It's better to describe a workplace challenge that resulted in a successful outcome than to start digging up and exposing all sorts of personal flaws.

 

[mskk]

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[TopSecret]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I think I'll just avoid opening any cans of worms, and stick to a standard topic. I'll let it sit for a day or two, though, so I'm not so frustrated/mind-blocked while writing it.

Yeah, this topic is a common trap for noobs. It's better to stick to a career challenge than a challenge with a psychiatric illness even if it was a huge challenge in your life because it will be seen as a potential liability to adcoms.