What timeframe is the "greatest adversity" answer appropriate to be from?

[radioactive15]

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For a traditional applicant, is their response to the "What is the greatest adversity you have faced" question in interviews and secondaries supposed to reflect a college experience or high school experience.

I personally don't have one bold experience that sticks out, so was wondering if I should choose one from college or high school

 

[deleted407021]

You can use an event from any point in your life to answer this question!

 

[MrLogan13]

It's whenever your greatest adversity or challenge occurred.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[aalamruad]

From the time of your birth to the present time

What about some sort of extreme emotional trauma before birth? Like the guilt associated with fetal resorption? Pretty heavy stuff..

 

[LizzyM]

Look at the prompt. This is not a pity party prompt where the adcom is looking for the applicant with the saddest story. How did you cope with or overcome your situation? If you choose something from early childhood, you are not demonstrating that you have mature coping skills.

If you feel that you have lived a charmed life, own that and express your gratitude that you have had a good life but find something that required you to be flexible, resilient, creative in problem solving, persevering. I once read an excellent essay about coping with having been the victim of a pickpocket abroad.

 

[MD89]

Look at the prompt. This is not a pity party prompt where the adcom is looking for the applicant with the saddest story. How did you cope with or overcome your situation? If you choose something from early childhood, you are not demonstrating that you have mature coping skills.

If you feel that you have lived a charmed life, own that and express your gratitude that you have had a good life but find something that required you to be flexible, resilient, creative in problem solving, persevering. I once read an excellent essay about coping with having been the victim of a pickpocket abroad.

Can you define "early childhood" please? I'm debating writing about something that occurred in 5th grade...as a nontraditional, that was a loooong time ago but it was something that really affected the direction of the rest of my life.

 

[LizzyM]

Can you define "early childhood" please? I'm debating writing about something that occurred in 5th grade...as a nontraditional, that was a loooong time ago but it was something that really affected the direction of the rest of my life.

Fifth grade was age 10-11, right? Were you a mature adult at that point, exercising adult coping skills? Again, read the prompt. If they are looking for a life event that was formative, then go with something that happened when you were a kid but if the prompt is looking for problem solving or coping skills, go with something in adulthood, particularly if you have been an adult for many years.

 

[MD89]

Fifth grade was age 10-11, right? Were you a mature adult at that point, exercising adult coping skills? Again, read the prompt. If they are looking for a life event that was formative, then go with something that happened when you were a kid but if the prompt is looking for problem solving or coping skills, go with something in adulthood, particularly if you have been an adult for many years.

Gotcha, thanks!