write this essay or not?

[Catdoctor]

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So Wash U has an "optional" essay about any kind of personal hardship that you have overcome that you want to talk about.

My question is, what is their definition of "hardship"? No, I was never homeless or had a terminal illness or traumatic accident or have been in war or anything like that. But I DID grow up with a single parent living near the poverty level for most of my childhood (until middle school). Should I write about that?

Sorry if this seems simple, but I'm very confused.

 

[armybound]

if you think it impaired you in some way, I'd write about it.

if you went on living fairly normal with the same educational and social advantages everyone else has, I wouldn't mention it.

 

[enigma85]

I would say at least 90% of applicants should leave this blank. Based on your history, I think you may be an exception.

 

[TheRealMD]

So Wash U has an "optional" essay about any kind of personal hardship that you have overcome that you want to talk about.

My question is, what is their definition of "hardship"? No, I was never homeless or had a terminal illness or traumatic accident or have been in war or anything like that. But I DID grow up with a single parent living near the poverty level for most of my childhood (until middle school). Should I write about that?

Sorry if this seems simple, but I'm very confused.

Simple enough, write about that.

 

[Catdoctor]

if you think it impaired you in some way, I'd write about it.

if you went on living fairly normal with the same educational and social advantages everyone else has, I wouldn't mention it.

There are two ways it may have impaired me:
1. It delayed my social development because, a: I had little extra time to spend with friends because my mom had to keep me with her friends while she worked, and she didn't have money to enroll me in special soccer-mom type activities that the other kids went to; and b: I was teased a lot cuz I obviously didn't have money but I went to a relatively rich public school (I was also an immigrant, and..a nerd hehe). As a result, I became very shy and introverted and it took me awhile to open up and make friends.

2. The reason my mom and I ended up in this situation is because my dad (a DOCTOR/researcher working in a top 20 medical school!) left her and me after 7 years of marriage without trying to contact me or pay any child support. My mom was scared to take him to court or anything because she was new to this country and thought they might take me away from her. This prejudiced me against doctors (and all other professionals who have to sacrifice parts of family life for their career) because I really wanted to have a family and not be like my dad.

So my question is, do you think this is valid enough for me to write the "hardship" essay? And, how would I incorporate these two things into my essay without sounding like I'm whining?

Also, my mom remarried later and she rose in her career, so we're in a much better financial situation now (about middle class).

 

[mongrel]

I'd say you have some fairly compelling situations. IF you can write the essay so that it shows you've become a better person because of your hardships, then do it. Definitely want to stay away from any sense of excuse-making or entitlement.

 

[Catdoctor]

I'd say you have some fairly compelling situations. IF you can write the essay so that it shows you've become a better person because of your hardships, then do it. Definitely want to stay away from any sense of excuse-making or entitlement.

Besides giving me a lot of responisbility at an early age and making me aware of class differences that exist in this country (I used to be really spoiled where I came from cuz I was lived in a big house with all my aunts and uncles and I was the only child), and being appreciative of what I had, etc, another way it "helped" me was to make me realize to never sacrifice my family for my career.
But isn't that a bad thing to write about in my med school essay? If they saw that I was family>being a doctor, aren't those some red flags? Are they gonna take this the wrong way?

 

[leftmid]

looks like if you have the numbers and your personality is fine, many adcoms would be more than willing to pay you back what a __________ doctor did to you. but at least, that__________doctor also passed on some good skull contents to you, so no hard feeling, right?

 

[Eosphorus]

There are two ways it may have impaired me:
1. It delayed my social development because, a: I had little extra time to spend with friends because my mom had to keep me with her friends while she worked, and she didn't have money to enroll me in special soccer-mom type activities that the other kids went to; and b: I was teased a lot cuz I obviously didn't have money but I went to a relatively rich public school (I was also an immigrant, and..a nerd hehe). As a result, I became very shy and introverted and it took me awhile to open up and make friends.

2. The reason my mom and I ended up in this situation is because my dad (a DOCTOR/researcher working in a top 20 medical school!) left her and me after 7 years of marriage without trying to contact me or pay any child support. My mom was scared to take him to court or anything because she was new to this country and thought they might take me away from her. This prejudiced me against doctors (and all other professionals who have to sacrifice parts of family life for their career) because I really wanted to have a family and not be like my dad.

So my question is, do you think this is valid enough for me to write the "hardship" essay? And, how would I incorporate these two things into my essay without sounding like I'm whining?

Also, my mom remarried later and she rose in her career, so we're in a much better financial situation now (about middle class).

Just curious, how can your family live in poverty as you say, yet you also say you went to a rich private school, and how does not being in "special soccer-mom activities" impair a person's social development?

 

[Catdoctor]

Just curious, how can your family live in poverty as you say, yet you also say you went to a rich private school, and how does not being in "special soccer-mom activities" impair a person's social development?

I didn't go to a private school. Note where I said "public" school. The town where I grew up was composed of rich families and college students living in discount housing (my mom was the latter, a nontraditional college student). My peers at school came from the rich families.

Also, not being able to go to the "activities" didn't impair my social development on its own. It just seemed that all my classmates in school went to this-or-that activity afterwards, and they wondered why I never joined them. I basically felt like I didn't fit in because of this, our lack of money (needless to say, I had very FOBBY clothes), being from another country, and spending afterschool with people my mom's age instead of mine. All of the stuff together really lowered my self esteem, and it took me a LONG time to come out of my shell, and I had to work to do it. It was just all a shock from where I came from.

If you guys feel this isn't substantial enough to write the "hardship" essay, then let me know.

 

[Eosphorus]

My bad about the private school, I was just skimming through. I should have read your post more thoroughly. But, also being an immigrant myself, I have grown up without participatng in extracurricular activities and do not find that to have been a hardship at all. There are enough ways to interact with people outside of their soccer, football, baseball, etc. setting. I would write about moving to the U.S. having to adapt to a new culture, learning a new language, etc. but I would not write an essay focusing on a lack of soccer-mom activities. I might mention it in passing as an example of not fitting in as an immigrant. I was not making light of your situation, if you feel that you had a significant hardship to overcome then by all means write about it.

 

[Catdoctor]

Thanks for all your help. I'm leaning towards writing this essay now, unless anyone else can bring to light any strong objections?