Is this too cliche?

[kevster2001]

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This is for Northwestern's second essay question:
Describe a time when you faced personal adversity that was not school related. What coping strategies did you employ/develop? If you believe you have not had such an experience(s), feel free to tell us anything more you'd like the Committee on Admissions to know about how you deal with personal challenges (e.g. financial, relationship, family, employment).

I was planning on talking about my grandfather dying a week before the MCATs and me trying to decide whether to postpone taking it and going to teh funeral in China ( a week long thing ) or stay in the states while my parents went. but given how cliche death is, it seems like this might be overdone.

 

[hopeful_MD]

This is for Northwestern's second essay question:
Describe a time when you faced personal adversity that was not school related. What coping strategies did you employ/develop? If you believe you have not had such an experience(s), feel free to tell us anything more you'd like the Committee on Admissions to know about how you deal with personal challenges (e.g. financial, relationship, family, employment).

I was planning on talking about my grandfather dying a week before the MCATs and me trying to decide whether to postpone taking it and going to teh funeral in China ( a week long thing ) or stay in the states while my parents went. but given how cliche death is, it seems like this might be overdone.

if you got a low mcat score then i would mention how the death negativley influenced you score......kind of depressing though....maybe stick to something a little bit brighter!!!

 

[kevster2001]

if you got a low mcat score then i would mention how the death negativley influenced you score......kind of depressing though....maybe stick to something a little bit brighter!!!

are there bright personal adversity things?

 

[stoppushingit]

This is for Northwestern's second essay question:
Describe a time when you faced personal adversity that was not school related. What coping strategies did you employ/develop? If you believe you have not had such an experience(s), feel free to tell us anything more you'd like the Committee on Admissions to know about how you deal with personal challenges (e.g. financial, relationship, family, employment).

I was planning on talking about my grandfather dying a week before the MCATs and me trying to decide whether to postpone taking it and going to teh funeral in China ( a week long thing ) or stay in the states while my parents went. but given how cliche death is, it seems like this might be overdone.

hi psst. i know you! gluck w/ apps!
anyway, i think that's fine. death is not overplayed, and i think this is a legit response, but only if you emphasize your grandfather's importance to you.

 

[hopeful_MD]

are there bright personal adversity things?

yes!!!......ones that end happily

.BRIGHT ADVERSITY!!!

 

[interstellar]

i don't think so. if that was a honest personal adversity you faced then you should really talk about it.

i know ppl like to say how certain topics are so cliche, but if it was a real experience that totally had an effect on you then you should write about it.

we're all human, so we're bound to have similar experiences in life right?

but hey so did u end up taking the test?

 

[hopeful_MD]

hi psst. i know you! gluck w/ apps!
anyway, i think that's fine. death is not overplayed, and i think this is a legit response, but only if you emphasize your grandfather's importance to you.

pssst. i know you too....all the best!!

 

[stoppushingit]

pssst. i know you too....all the best!!

yawn yawn.

 

[hopeful_MD]

yawn yawn.

you should get some sleep!

 

[kevster2001]

i don't think so. if that was a honest personal adversity you faced then you should really talk about it.

i know ppl like to say how certain topics are so cliche, but if it was a real experience that totally had an effect on you then you should write about it.

we're all human, so we're bound to have similar experiences in life right?

but hey so did u end up taking the test?

yeah i did

 

[hopeful_MD]

yeah i did

did you do good?

 

[kevster2001]

did you do good?

yeah it went pretty well

 

[stoppushingit]

dude, i think you're set.

 

[peterpansy]

I think it would be perfectly appropriate to talk about how you dealt with your grandfather's death, and you can briefly mention the MCAT issue, but don't make considering rescheduling the MCAT the focus of your essay. In my opinion, it will make you seem one-sided, especially since you ended up taking the test. Of course, it depends on how you write it, but if you end up with something like "My grandfather died and I was upset because I thought I would have to reschedule my MCAT or not do as well on the test. Still, I persevered, and did great!" it might make you look callous. But if you focus on how the death of a family member affected you and how you fouind a way to deal with those emotions and go on with your life, then it can be a good essay. Just my input, good luck!

 

[Mac11]

if you got a low mcat score then i would mention how the death negativley influenced you score

But then s/he didn't overcome the adversity...?

 

[hopeful_MD]

But then s/he didn't overcome the adversity...?

hey thats not my fault!! some people just fail in the face of adversity!!

 

[Mac11]

hey thats not my fault!! some people just fail in the face of adversity!!

Uh huh, which is why you don't write essays about how you overcame the adversity if the punch line is that you actually didn't.

 

[hopeful_MD]

Uh huh, which is why you don't write essays about how you overcame the adversity if the punch line is that you actually didn't.

exactly! now you finally understand....that took a while!!

 

[Mac11]

exactly! now you finally understand....that took a while!!

oh 😳

 

[Xypathos]

exactly! now you finally understand....that took a while!!

I think we found our new troll.

 

[LizzyM]

The challenge was being placed in a position where you needed to choose between traveling to a funeral and not traveling so that you could take the MCAT. Choosing to take the MCAT could have negative consequences if you were emotionally upset about your grandfather's death. Choosing to reschedule the MCAT would mean additional months of study and preparation (good or bad depending on how you think about how you spend your time and how prepared you felt for the earlier date).

What strategies did you employ in making your decision? This is an important part of the question as it tells the adcom what you do when you find yourself in a challenging situation.

The situation you choose isn't the focus of the question. The money part of that question is the strategy you employ to overcome the adversity or challenge.