Essay topic -thoughts?

[Anonymous]

I was just reading an article about how schools do not want "administratively expensive" (ie.e high maintenance) families. I think from an administrator's point of view, it could read as the kid needs special handling and the parents will fight to get it. I know that's not the truth, but they will likely empathize with the teacher/administrator, not your son.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends on how good of a writer he is in general. It could go very badly or very well.

That's what I was going to say, too. If your kid can dig deep and really write something insightful and good, then yeah - especially if he shows himself to be a flawed but tenacious and resilient person in there, too. If it's just an airing of grievances about how mistreated he's been and how the world is unfair, then heck no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't write about overcoming anything unless your kid has been homeless or similar. Even then, it may not be the best topic. There are too many ways it can go wrong. Write about something that puts your dc in the best possible light.

I don't work in admissions but I am a writer, and I don't think that's right. You can write about overcoming anything so long as you do it with awareness and insight. You don't have to have survived an attempted murder that took our your whole family to have a story to tell. You just have to tell your story in the right way - be authentic. Don't be a jerk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't write about overcoming anything unless your kid has been homeless or similar. Even then, it may not be the best topic. There are too many ways it can go wrong. Write about something that puts your dc in the best possible light.

I don't work in admissions but I am a writer, and I don't think that's right. You can write about overcoming anything so long as you do it with awareness and insight. You don't have to have survived an attempted murder that took our your whole family to have a story to tell. You just have to tell your story in the right way - be authentic. Don't be a jerk.

^ Unless you are a jerk and can write about that with insight! Then that's fine, too.

The question really is how skillful the writer is, not what the topic is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:omg the kid might as well title the essay "Mommy is on my side, not the teacher's." Will likely be seen as a brat with permissive parents.

[Anonymous]

A better focus might be where your child learned the skills to persevere through this and perhaps throwing it in as an example (if it works) rather than the main focus.

Both my kids wrote essays about how a favorite piece of art/literature/etc taught them lessons they were able to apply in their real life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People are out here overcoming poverty and homeless and getting into college and your kid wants to write about this “hardship” … ok then.

Calm down. Since my kid doesn't experience either of those things we are obv not writing about those things. That doesn't mean other situations aren't "hardships" and, since you know nothing about our situation, you're not really in a place to judge the experience DC is dealing with.

Jesus. Think I have the consensus I need. The rest of you can pile on and be as rude as you want. I'm out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NEVER, EVER complain about a school, professional or personal relationship unless it's objectively bad. Objectively means legally: someone was at least arrested by police, if not sentenced.

Otherwise you come across as a whiner if you don't have evidence.

This 100% and 100% again.

OP you're backing the wrong horse. Drop this and focus on something genuinely positive ( rather, have your kid do this)

I'm not "backing" anything. I"m just asking. As I said, this was just something we were talking about in the abstract and it got me thinking whether that was a good idea or not.

It's just an expression you don't need to get your panties in a twist. Everyone is telling you it is a bad idea and that was just my way of wording it. IT IS A BAD IDEA. YOU ARE PROBABLY A BIT OF A FOOL.

I'm terribly impressed Ms. Anonymous Internet Poster. Or should I say that in all caps too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are out here overcoming poverty and homeless and getting into college and your kid wants to write about this “hardship” … ok then.

Calm down. Since my kid doesn't experience either of those things we are obv not writing about those things. That doesn't mean other situations aren't "hardships" and, since you know nothing about our situation, you're not really in a place to judge the experience DC is dealing with.

Jesus. Think I have the consensus I need. The rest of you can pile on and be as rude as you want. I'm out.

A lot of posters have non rude opinions that another topic is stronger and explained why and you seem to be taking that as a personal attack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are out here overcoming poverty and homeless and getting into college and your kid wants to write about this “hardship” … ok then.

Calm down. Since my kid doesn't experience either of those things we are obv not writing about those things. That doesn't mean other situations aren't "hardships" and, since you know nothing about our situation, you're not really in a place to judge the experience DC is dealing with.

Jesus. Think I have the consensus I need. The rest of you can pile on and be as rude as you want. I'm out.

Hardships aren't relative according to income. Hardships are real and your family isn't experiencing that. Be grateful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are out here overcoming poverty and homeless and getting into college and your kid wants to write about this “hardship” … ok then.

Calm down. Since my kid doesn't experience either of those things we are obv not writing about those things. That doesn't mean other situations aren't "hardships" and, since you know nothing about our situation, you're not really in a place to judge the experience DC is dealing with.

Jesus. Think I have the consensus I need. The rest of you can pile on and be as rude as you want. I'm out.

It's not a "we" situation. Fine to request feedback on topics, but you should not be involved in writing. BTW, you are getting lots of good advice here. Try not to be defensive (I know it's hard on this site).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are out here overcoming poverty and homeless and getting into college and your kid wants to write about this “hardship” … ok then.

Calm down. Since my kid doesn't experience either of those things we are obv not writing about those things. That doesn't mean other situations aren't "hardships" and, since you know nothing about our situation, you're not really in a place to judge the experience DC is dealing with.

Jesus. Think I have the consensus I need. The rest of you can pile on and be as rude as you want. I'm out.

It's not a "we" situation. Fine to request feedback on topics, but you should not be involved in writing. BTW, you are getting lots of good advice here. Try not to be defensive (I know it's hard on this site).

thanks Preacher Pam

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are out here overcoming poverty and homeless and getting into college and your kid wants to write about this “hardship” … ok then.

Calm down. Since my kid doesn't experience either of those things we are obv not writing about those things. That doesn't mean other situations aren't "hardships" and, since you know nothing about our situation, you're not really in a place to judge the experience DC is dealing with.

Jesus. Think I have the consensus I need. The rest of you can pile on and be as rude as you want. I'm out.

It's not a "we" situation. Fine to request feedback on topics, but you should not be involved in writing. BTW, you are getting lots of good advice here. Try not to be defensive (I know it's hard on this site).

thanks Preacher Pam

You're welcome. Don't forget your tithes and offerings.

Seriously though, sure it was a minor slip, but it kind of says something about your perspective here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't write about overcoming anything unless your kid has been homeless or similar. Even then, it may not be the best topic. There are too many ways it can go wrong. Write about something that puts your dc in the best possible light.

I don't work in admissions but I am a writer, and I don't think that's right. You can write about overcoming anything so long as you do it with awareness and insight. You don't have to have survived an attempted murder that took our your whole family to have a story to tell. You just have to tell your story in the right way - be authentic. Don't be a jerk.

DH's cousin is a writer - books, mags, etc - and also works in college admissions. And the cousin would tell OP and DC "heck no!"

[Anonymous]

OP I agree many folks were over-the-top rude. I do agree with the good advice that some gave- don't be negative about a teacher or the school- no matter how good a writer your kid is it can backfire.

I sympathize that its hard to walk away from a topic your kid feels passionately about and that has been transformative but this one is a no-go, for all the practical reasons mentioned.