"Greatest challenge" vs. "Adversity"

[deleted972488]

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Sorry if this has been asked before, but I'm prewriting some secondaries and wondering if I need to approach some of them differently. When a school asks for "a significant personal challenge" would it be unwise to talk about multiple challenges I've faced? For other essays, they seem to be more generally asking for instances of "prevailing over adversity."

 

[lalalallala]

Are the challenges connected? Normally the 'significant personal challenge' essays are fairly short so I feel like explaining how you grew from one would be more effective than trying to fit multiple in

 

[deleted972488]

Are the challenges connected? Normally the 'significant personal challenge' essays are fairly short so I feel like explaining how you grew from one would be more effective than trying to fit multiple in

Case Western asks for up to 3,500 characters and seems to be asking for one experience. For other essays of similar length, I've written about multiple instances of overcoming adversity. I can pick one experience to elaborate on, I suppose.

 

[LizzyM]

Pay attention to the prompt. Don't try to recycle an essay on a related topic. If the prompt seems to be suggesting a desire to hear about a difficulty, don't write about more than one. Adcoms are weeding out >80% of applicants, don't let them do so on the basis that you were unresponsive to the specific prompt. It is a pain in the tush but it is better than reapplying.

 

[deleted972488]

Pay attention to the prompt. Don't try to recycle an essay on a related topic. If the prompt seems to be suggesting a desire to hear about a difficulty, don't write about more than one. Adcoms are weeding out >80% of applicants, don't let them do so on the basis that you were unresponsive to the specific prompt. It is a pain in the tush but it is better than reapplying.

Thank you. This is what I suspected. Luckily I’m thinking about it and preparing for it far enough in advance, so it isn’t a big deal.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

what are some examples of adversity or greatest challenge? I know it probably shouldn't be about academics. I can't think of any for my son in college.

 

[Goro]

Sorry if this has been asked before, but I'm prewriting some secondaries and wondering if I need to approach some of them differently. When a school asks for "a significant personal challenge" would it be unwise to talk about multiple challenges I've faced? For other essays, they seem to be more generally asking for instances of "prevailing over adversity."

You're overthinking this. It's also important to follow simple instructions.

What part of "a significant personal challenge" makes you think that you should discuss more than one????

The two prompts are asking for the same thing!

 

[Goro]

what are some examples of adversity or greatest challenge? I know it probably shouldn't be about academics. I can't think of any for my son in college.

That's on him. Introspection is a required trait for a doctor.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

That's on him. Introspection is a required trait for a doctor.

I agree. Could it be about social interactions? As per I know he didn't have any adversity in academics or ECs. and he is social.

 

[unluckyadhessiveness]

Would it be unwise to discuss an event mentioned previously? For example, if one mentioned something in their PS but didn't go into detail, especially about challenges, could one still use the more detailed event as a personal challenge?

 

[LizzyM]

what are some examples of adversity or greatest challenge? I know it probably shouldn't be about academics. I can't think of any for my son in college.

Don't try to do your son's homework for him. Writing about an adversity may be something that is too private to share with you. I've seen people write about being stressed about coming out as gay, choosing to reject parents' religious traditions, chosing to reject parents' pressure to marry at a young age, etc. Some students might write about a difficulty with a roommate, or a lover who became a stalker (something that your son may not have shared with you at the time). Maybe none of those apply to your son but there may be similar heart-felt issues that would be touchy to bring up with you.

 

[deleted972488]

Would it be unwise to discuss an event mentioned previously? For example, if one mentioned something in their PS but didn't go into detail, especially about challenges, could one still use the more detailed event as a personal challenge?

This is what I'm doing. It is absolutely without a doubt my greatest challenge and that is what Case asks for in the prompt, but I didn't really talk about why it was challenging in my PS. In the PS I just talked about how aspects of it led me (back) to medicine.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

Don't try to do your son's homework for him. Writing about an adversity may be something that is too private to share with you. I've seen people write about being stressed about coming out as gay, choosing to reject parents' religious traditions, chosing to reject parents' pressure to marry at a young age, etc. Some students might write about a difficulty with a roommate, or a lover who became a stalker (something that your son may not have shared with you at the time). Maybe none of those apply to your son but there may be similar heart-felt issues that would be touchy to bring up with you.

@LizzyM - Thank you. I am definitely not trying to do my son's homework. I am curious myself and I send useful info to him. He doesn't read SDN or CC, he is happy to spend his free time reading about EVs, NBA, formula 1 racing, etc... I have very open relationship with him (until now) and may be it will change when he finds a lover 😉