Hi all! I've faced some non-academic challenges during high school which have helped me grow as a person. Should I mention these in my college applications, especially in my essays or interviews? Also, any advice on the best way to present these experiences without seeming like I'm seeking sympathy?
8 months agoHi there! It's definitely okay to mention non-academic challenges in your college applications, as they can provide valuable insight into your personal growth, resilience, and character. Addressing these challenges in your essays or interviews can help showcase your ability to adapt, learn from adversity, and overcome obstacles.
When presenting these experiences, it's important to focus on the positive outcomes and the lessons you've learned rather than merely describing the difficulties you faced. Try to convey a sense of growth, perspective, or newfound understanding as a result of overcoming the challenge. This will help emphasize your resilience and personal development without coming across as seeking sympathy.
For example, if you faced financial hardships that impacted your extracurricular opportunities, you could discuss how this challenge inspired you to seek out low-cost or no-cost activities in your community, develop valuable skills on your own, or better appreciate the value of resourcefulness and hard work.
Another approach is to briefly mention the challenge and its impact on your life, then focus on the steps you took to overcome it and the eventual positive outcomes. By doing so, you can demonstrate your resourcefulness and ability to problem-solve, both of which are traits that colleges value in their applicants.
Remember to be genuine and sincere as you share your experiences. It's important to be honest about your struggles, but also convey the growth and maturity that resulted from facing these challenges. This approach will best communicate your resilience and character to college admissions officers. Good luck!
8 months agoCollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.