Is a Personal Struggle an Appropriate Essay Topic?

College applicants often write essays about personal struggles and challenges. Sometimes, those stories provide great insight into the human being behind the grades and test scores. In other cases, tales of personal struggle raise red flags to the point that an admissions officer is reluctant to offer the applicant a space in the class. We'll provide an expert perspective on how to write a college essay about personal struggles or overcoming challenges.

Key Takeaways:

There are plenty of ways to go wrong in a college essay, and if you're thinking about sharing a personal struggle, it's important to recognize the advantages and disadvantages. Some essays may raise red flags to admission readers, while other essays reassure them that you're ready to take on new challenges in college.
There is no forbidden list of essay topics. Writing about a personal struggle can be very powerful, but only if they are framed thoughtfully. Students should spend time reflecting on their experiences and determining if they're ready to discuss such deeply personal topics with admissions officers.
Should you write a personal struggle college essay? Only you can answer that question. But the best guideline is this: choose a story you're most proud to tell, one that feels uniquely yours and without which your college application would be incomplete.

Pros and Cons of a Personal Struggle College Essay

Like any essay topic, there are advantages and disadvantages. Here's what you need to know:

Pros

Shows personal growth and your ability to reflect on your experiences
Provides perspective on who you are as an individual
Highlights resilience and maturity
Adds context to the "why" behind your passions, interests, goals, and values

Cons

Can raise concern and lead to admissions officers questioning your readiness for college
May not be fleshed out, especially if your emotions or situation are still raw and unresolved
It can bring your application down if focus is too heavily on the issue and not the resolution

What Challenges are Appropriate for College Essay Topics?

There is no irrefutable list of “OK” and “Not OK” topics (although we do have a few college essay examples to avoid). But the litmus test we use at Collegewise when students ask our opinion is:

“Will this story give an admissions officer cause to worry about your health, stability, or safety if you joined their class?”

First, it’s important to remember that a college application—even one with essays, letters of recommendation, and interviews—is an imperfect instrument of measurement. You’re far more complex and interesting than any college application can possibly communicate. But, your answer to the question might be a "yes," think carefully about how to move forward, and what essay you want to write.

How to Write a Personal Struggle College Essay Topic Safely and Effectively (Example Included)

There are plenty of topics students write about that fall under the personal struggle umbrella. For example, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, learning differences, and addiction are all very real challenges that any student can experience.

When admissions officers read essays about these topics, it's not that they will judge you or think you're less worthy as a human being just because you've faced these types of challenges. Their job, however, does include making sure students will thrive on their campus.

College can be a challenging adjustment for even the healthiest, best-supported students. And these stories can raise very real concerns for a reader who may not know you as deeply as your friends and family. It may raise questions such as:

Are you ready for the challenges of college life?
Does this particular institution offer what you need to be happy, healthy, and successful?
Is there a chance you're a danger to yourself, your roommate, or your classmates?

It might seem unfair for an admissions officer to consider those questions, especially when you aren’t necessarily given the chance to offer a response. But that’s their job. They have a responsibility—to you and to the students who would be joining you in the campus community—to raise those concerns and questions.

We once worked with a student who spent six months in a drug rehabilitation center, but her story (which she did discuss in her college essay) included that she was not only two years sober, but that she also now worked in that same center, counseling other teens who were in the throes of addiction. What once might have been seen as a liability now becomes a very real asset to her fellow students and to the college.

What did that student do right?

As with any personal struggle college essay, students should:

Focus on resolution, not just the problem
Emphasize growth, impact, and reflection
Connect it to college readiness or your path forward

Determining If You're Ready to Write about a Personal Struggle

While there are self-reflection exercises students can do to determine if they're ready to discuss certain topics in their college essays, every student is different. However, if you're still at a crossroads, here are a few questions to ask yourself before writing your essay:

Have I successfully overcome this challenge?
What evidence is there that I am happier and healthier today?
What story do I hope to tell by writing about this?
Am I proud to tell this story?

Spend the appropriate time reflecting on your experiences before diving headfirst into writing.

Final Thoughts

And finally, whatever story you choose to share—personal struggle or not—please don’t choose it based on what you think colleges and admissions counselors want to hear. There’s a common admissions myth that hardship is inherently rewarded, causing many applicants to exaggerate or even manufacture it. There’s no such thing as admissions extra credit based on your essay topic. Choose a story that helps them get to know you in a way they could not have done by the application alone.

If you're a student seeking more support on essay brainstorming, writing, or editing, schedule your free consultation with Collegewise today. Our team will pair you with an expert counselor to help you find your unique story and guide you in writing the best version for college.

About Us: With more than twenty-six years of experience, Collegewise counselors and tutors are at the forefront of the ever-evolving admissions landscape. Our work has always centered on you: the student. And just like we’ve always done, we look for ways for you to be your best self - whether it’s in the classroom, in your applications or in the right-fit college environment. Our range of tools include counseling, test prep, academic tutoring, and essay management, all with the support of our proprietary platform, leading to a 4x higher than average admissions rates.