Topic for overcoming a challenge essay?

[djsbaseball2014]

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So I am stuck trying to figure out some topics for the challenge essay that keeps showing up on secondaries and here are a few options

1.) Discuss my so-so academic performance my first year of college: got 3 C's one in Biology lab, another in Biology lecture and the last in a math class. Also got a B- in another biology class and english. I have a 3.72 cGPA and 3.73 sGPA so I picked it up after that.

I would essentially discuss my parents divorce the summer prior to starting college which subsequently affected me and my mental health during my first year. Felt like i didnt have that support system, and was really conflicted. My mother also came out to me that she is lesbian which was shocking as well. I would basically talk about overcoming that and turning my grades around to do better second year. Also could discuss mine and my sisters bond during this time

2.) discuss my rejection from our schools pre-med fraternity which was an eye-opening experience to me during my second year and caused me to turn my grades around for my steep upward trend ( last 100 units at a 3.988) as well as get involved in more meaningful extracurriculars

3.) discuss more about my personal health issues which i addressed in my PS and talk about the effects it had on me while playing baseball competitively from age 5-18. Not as recent but would follow suit with my personal statement

 

[Med Ed]

So I am stuck trying to figure out some topics for the challenge essay that keeps showing up on secondaries and here are a few options

1.) Discuss my so-so academic performance my first year of college: got 3 C's one in Biology lab, another in Biology lecture and the last in a math class. Also got a B- in another biology class and english. I have a 3.72 cGPA and 3.73 sGPA so I picked it up after that.

I would essentially discuss my parents divorce the summer prior to starting college which subsequently affected me and my mental health during my first year. Felt like i didnt have that support system, and was really conflicted. My mother also came out to me that she is lesbian which was shocking as well. I would basically talk about overcoming that and turning my grades around to do better second year. Also could discuss mine and my sisters bond during this time

2.) discuss my rejection from our schools pre-med fraternity which was an eye-opening experience to me during my second year and caused me to turn my grades around for my steep upward trend ( last 100 units at a 3.988) as well as get involved in more meaningful extracurriculars

3.) discuss more about my personal health issues which i addressed in my PS and talk about the effects it had on me while playing baseball competitively from age 5-18. Not as recent but would follow suit with my personal statement

1. is fine, depending on how you handle it. A lot of people have difficult adjustments to undergrad, yours sounds exceptionally trying.

2. could be fine, but I have to ask how you managed to get rejected from your school's premed fraternity.

3. is getting out there.

 

[djsbaseball2014]

1. is fine, depending on how you handle it. A lot of people have difficult adjustments to undergrad, yours sounds exceptionally trying.

2. could be fine, but I have to ask how you managed to get rejected from your school's premed fraternity.

3. is getting out there.

They did a whole rush week and interview process, I made it all the way to the interview and then got rejected after my interview so I am assuming i didnt have a great interview. (only like 10 out of the 50+ people that rushed made it) My GPA was also only a 3.3 at the time which was above their requirement but they mentioned it to me that it was low while i was rushing... I turned it around big time after though started getting 4.0's every quarter and started my own student organization

 

[stubblesmcgee]

This might be rude but I think many might see 2 as a bit "oh woe is me". I think 1 is a better topic if you make the grades more ancillary to the overall way it affected you.

 

[djsbaseball2014]

@stubblesmcgee I completely agree about too but it honestly was the primary reason for my steep upward trend which could provide context if presented in the correct way. I'm not going to come off as whiny etc just say things didnt work out but it pushed me to do better and become a better overall person etc. But i am starting to like number 1 better

 

[Med Ed]

They did a whole rush week and interview process, I made it all the way to the interview and then got rejected after my interview so I am assuming i didnt have a great interview. (only like 10 out of the 50+ people that rushed made it) My GPA was also only a 3.3 at the time which was above their requirement but they mentioned it to me that it was low while i was rushing... I turned it around big time after though started getting 4.0's every quarter and started my own student organization

Sounds supportive and inclusive.

I would probably go with 1. It would be nice if you could frame it around how you assessed your situation and made deliberate changes to be successful. That would underscore a level of reflection and resiliency that is uncommon in people at that stage of life.

 

[djsbaseball2014]

Sound supportive and inclusive.

I would probably go with 1. It would be nice if you could frame it around how you assessed your situation and made deliberate changes to be successful. That would underscore a level of reflection and resiliency that is uncommon in people at that stage of life.

Lmao exactly... they have been going downhill for the past few years and their acceptance rate into medical school is not great so to each their own. I agree with your thinking and will definitely highlight those attributes in the essay response!