Most difficult challenge- too extreme?

[nedmed]

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So for the common question about "What adversities have you overcome" or "What has been your biggest challenge" type questions... I could answer these honestly and talk about (unsuccessfully) undergoing conversion therapy. However, I could see some downsides to bringing up something like this. For instance, it's common SDN knowledge to not bring up anything like depression. Could this be too extreme? I'd like to be an open book but not at the expense of admission...

 

[nedmed]

Disclosing your sexuality on applications is not the same as disclosing depression, a mental illness which could conceivably affect your ability to succeed in medicine. If you feel comfortable being "out" in your application and potentially answering questions about it during the interview I think this would make for a strong essay.

Thanks for the advice. I don't plan on using this as an essay, and don't plan on bringing sexuality up unless asked this specific question. Agreed, it's totally not the same as depression, but rather could likewise be an off putting scenario. I've debated this internally for a while so thanks for your insight!

 

[OneTwoThreeFour]

Thanks for the advice. I don't plan on using this as an essay, and don't plan on bringing sexuality up unless asked this specific question. Agreed, it's totally not the same as depression, but rather could likewise be an off putting scenario. I've debated this internally for a while so thanks for your insight!

By undergoing conversion therapy, do you mean that you were successfully converted? or that your family forced you to do it, and that was the challenge. Either way, there could be interviewer pushback/discomfort with the answer. If you were "cured," you may have an interviewer who believes sexuality is a genetic, innate trait and you were actually just brainwashed and traumatized (aka "scared straight").
If you say your family forced you to do it and you had to suffer, you may get an interviewer who is uncomfortable talking about homosexuality, and this could taint the rest of the interview.

In a vaguer sense, you could say that your family was very religious and had certain beliefs, and they did not respect your choice to exist outside of that belief system, and that was a challenge for you.

 

[nedmed]

By undergoing conversion therapy, do you mean that you were successfully converted? or that your family forced you to do it, and that was the challenge. Either way, there could be interviewer pushback/discomfort with the answer. If you were "cured," you may have an interviewer who believes sexuality is a genetic, innate trait and you were actually just brainwashed and traumatized (aka "scared straight").
If you say your family forced you to do it and you had to suffer, you may get an interviewer who is uncomfortable talking about homosexuality, and this could taint the rest of the interview.

In a vaguer sense, you could say that your family was very religious and had certain beliefs, and they did not respect your choice to exist outside of that belief system, and that was a challenge for you.

Hahaha no, it was anything but successful...

 

[OneTwoThreeFour]

Hahaha no, it was anything but successful...

Pshew. I was trying really hard to be PC there, but converstion therapy stuff gives me the creeps. Still, I would go with the last sentence of my earlier post(that is, your beliefs and choices ran directly contrary to the wishes of your family) rather than getting into specifics.

 

[nedmed]

Pshew. I was trying really hard to be PC there, but converstion therapy stuff gives me the creeps. Still, I would go with the last sentence of my earlier post(that is, your beliefs and choices ran directly contrary to the wishes of your family) rather than getting into specifics.

Excellent advice! Thank you.

 

[snowflakes]

Thanks for the advice. I don't plan on using this as an essay, and don't plan on bringing sexuality up unless asked this specific question. Agreed, it's totally not the same as depression, but rather could likewise be an off putting scenario. I've debated this internally for a while so thanks for your insight!

Wait, by essay I meant response to secondary question. Greatest challenge/adversity overcome is a very common secondary question. Is that what you meant as well? Or did you mean interview question? Either way, ahstern gave an example of how to stay vague if you would be more comfortable with that. Make sure you're only as specific as you feel comfortable discussing with your interviewer, because whatever you submit on the primary/secondaries is fair game for discussion in the interview.

 

[911 Turbo]

What's conversion therapy?

 

[Plecopotamus]

So for the common question about "What adversities have you overcome" or "What has been your biggest challenge" type questions... I could answer these honestly and talk about (unsuccessfully) undergoing conversion therapy. However, I could see some downsides to bringing up something like this. For instance, it's common SDN knowledge to not bring up anything like depression. Could this be too extreme? I'd like to be an open book but not at the expense of admission...

Are you able to maturely articulate something you gained from the experience and/or how skills you learned during the experience are more broadly applicable to life? People on SDN sometimes make it feel like this is a contest of horror/sob stories of life events/circumstances. Obviously that is not the spirit of the question. The adversity question and describing a challenge (depending on how it is worded -- biggest challenge in life vs describe a challenge you once faced) seek different information. Think carefully about whether you're giving them the info they were seeking through the prompt.

I don't think it is a clearly inappropriate topic. But you have to present it so it seems appropriate in context, provides the necessary info about you, and doesn't give TMI.

 

[nedmed]

What's conversion therapy?

It is a type of therapy aimed at "curing" or at least suppressing homosexual tendencies.

 

[nedmed]

Are you able to maturely articulate something you gained from the experience and/or how skills you learned during the experience are more broadly applicable to life? People on SDN sometimes make it feel like this is a contest of horror/sob stories of life events/circumstances. Obviously that is not the spirit of the question. The adversity question and describing a challenge (depending on how it is worded -- biggest challenge in life vs describe a challenge you once faced) seek different information. Think carefully about whether you're giving them the info they were seeking through the prompt.

I don't think it is a clearly inappropriate topic. But you have to present it so it seems appropriate in context, provides the necessary info about you, and doesn't give TMI.

This is exactly why I asked! It's a point well taken. I don't think this question should be about who has had the hardest life; everyone deals with all sorts of junk growing up. If I bring it up at all, I will focus on what I learned about myself from the experience and not the experience itself.

 

[deleted407021]

It is a type of therapy aimed at "curing" or at least suppressing homosexual tendencies.

@U Wot M8 It has also been condemned by the American Psychiatric Association as being ineffective and at odds with individual liberties.

I should add that it is entirely unscientific, as well.

 

[touchpause13]

I think this would be a hell of a topic for such an essay. I would go for it, but do so In a way that doesn't bash whatever religion this group was if possible. You never know who is reading your essay.

Sorry you went through that OP.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

So for the common question about "What adversities have you overcome" or "What has been your biggest challenge" type questions... I could answer these honestly and talk about (unsuccessfully) undergoing conversion therapy. However, I could see some downsides to bringing up something like this. For instance, it's common SDN knowledge to not bring up anything like depression. Could this be too extreme? I'd like to be an open book but not at the expense of admission...

That essay would make me automatically want to read more about your entire application.