Step right up and help me choose a Challenge Essay!

[Blueshirtguy]

Our first contestant is Research! I learned how to code my junior year of college and I used it for two different projects that I will be published on in the coming year. For one of which I built an automated behavioral assay that will be used by the lab for years to come. It was hard because I was the only one in the lab that could code so I had to figure everything out for myself, but I worked through all the setbacks to make it work and now we can use that data. Case asks for non-academic so IDK if this counts
Second, we have Hiking! I hiked the Grand Canyon in the snow a couple of years back and we went way too far way too late in the day but we kept wanting to see more views and we severely overestimated how fast we could hike back up. The whole thing was like 15 miles. Anyways, we ended up barely making it back with no light in the dark. I had to carry my brother's pack for a bit because he was exhausted. I had salt packets in my bag and it got to the point where we were pouring them into our mouths because we lost so much in our sweat.
Last but maybe least we have Family! My girlfriend is Indian and my family is Pakistani, so it was a huge struggle to get my family to accept her. This is a bit of a controversial one in the Pakistani/Indian community because a lot of people are racist and have nothing better to do than hate other people!

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[theendisnigh]

Out of these I would say second, simply because the case is asking for non-academic and the third may be a bit more challenging to write. They are asking for what you overcame, the third is more what your girlfriend overcame fitting into your family.

 

[Blueshirtguy]

Thanks for the reply! You don't think that would be too trivial? Also can I use this if they ask for my biggest challenge rather than just a challenge?

 

[Blueshirtguy]

Out of these I would say second, simply because the case is asking for non-academic and the third may be a bit more challenging to write. They are asking for what you overcame, the third is more what your girlfriend overcame fitting into your family.

Sorry I forgot to make my post a reply to yours

 

[Catalystik]

Hiking! I hiked the Grand Canyon in the snow a couple of years back and we went way too far way too late in the day but we kept wanting to see more views and we severely overestimated how fast we could hike back up. The whole thing was like 15 miles. Anyways, we ended up barely making it back with no light in the dark. I had to carry my brother's pack for a bit because he was exhausted. I had salt packets in my bag and it got to the point where we were pouring them into our mouths because we lost so much in our sweat.

This option is reasonable depending on how you express what you learned from it or what the impact was.

 

[Blueshirtguy]

This option is reasonable depending on how you express what you learned from it or what the impact was.

That's what I was leaning towards as well! Thank you for your input!

 

[Goro]

Research! I learned how to code my junior year of college and I used it for two different projects that I will be published on in the coming year. For one of which I built an automated behavioral assay that will be used by the lab for years to come. It was hard because I was the only one in the lab that could code so I had to figure everything out for myself, but I worked through all the setbacks to make it work and now we can use that data. Case asks for non-academic so IDK if this counts

No. This telegraphs that you're lab rat with no life outside academics. Adcoms want to see your grit and coping skills, not how you figured out what buffer was best to separate large proteins.

Second, we have Hiking! I hiked the Grand Canyon in the snow a couple of years back and we went way too far way too late in the day but we kept wanting to see more views and we severely overestimated how fast we could hike back up. The whole thing was like 15 miles. Anyways, we ended up barely making it back with no light in the dark. I had to carry my brother's pack for a bit because he was exhausted. I had salt packets in my bag and it got to the point where we were pouring them into our mouths because we lost so much in our sweat.

Excellent choice

Last but maybe least we have Family! My girlfriend is Indian and my family is Pakistani, so it was a huge struggle to get my family to accept her. This is a bit of a controversial one in the Pakistani/Indian community because a lot of people are racist and have nothing better to do than hate other people!

Overdone to the point of making Adcoms want to scream.

 

[Blueshirtguy]

No. This telegraphs that you're lab rat with no life outside academics. Adcoms want to see your grit and coping skills, not how you figured out what buffer was best to separate large proteins.

Excellent choice

Overdone to the point of making Adcoms want to scream.

Thank you! I always appreciate your advice.