Using "Personal Challenge" essay for "Add Something" essay

[areserine]

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I really like the personal challenge essay that I wrote. It talks about coping skills, a major pastime of mine and what I learned from it, and I think it overall paints me in a positive light and highlights parts of me that don't didn't have a place in the rest of my app. For schools that leave space for a "add something" or "is there anything else that you would like us to know about you" essay, would it be appropriate to say something like "I think that this example of how I approached a difficult personal situation will provide you with insight into my character that would otherwise be missed" and then add my personal challenge essay? Obviously, I expect that these schools would be familiar with the idea of this essay despite not asking for it, but would it be weird to include it like that?

 

[NickNaylor]

I think that would be perfectly appropriate.


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[BeancheBlanco]

Answer the essay prompt. If the prompt asks you to add "anything you want them to know", then you can and should put "anything you want them to know" on there. However, do not use your personal challenge essay for a prompt that is asking for something else.

 

[nemo123]

Be careful though because some of those spaces are meant more for things like explaining a bad semester.

 

[Lamel]

If you do use it, be sure to modify some phrasing so it doesn't seem obvious that it is a personal challenge response.

 

[Person0715]

I think it's okay. That is what I am planning on doing, anyway.

If you do use it, be sure to modify some phrasing so it doesn't seem obvious that it is a personal challenge response.

I think adcoms will pick up on it, no matter how much you change the wording around. I mean, they aren't idiots. And just because you use an essay not written specifically for the prompt doesn't make the essay any less appropriate, especially when the prompt is something so open ended as "is there anything else you want us to know?"

 

[Lamel]

I think it's okay. That is what I am planning on doing, anyway.



I think adcoms will pick up on it, no matter how much you change the wording around. I mean, they aren't idiots. And just because you use an essay not written specifically for the prompt doesn't make the essay any less appropriate, especially when the prompt is something so open ended as "is there anything else you want us to know?"

Well if whatever additional information you want them to know IS a personal challenge, it shouldn't really be a problem. Even if they pick up on it, it's probably better to be more subtle.

I think the best essays that can be reused for additional information are probably diversity ones.