Death college essay

But remember that your essay isn’t really about the death of your loved one; it’s about the lessons you learned from that experience and how those lessons manifest themselves in your intellect, your academics, or your extracurriculars. That’s what admissions officers want to know.

Other themes are poor choices because students often use them as opportunities to release pent-up emotions and unwittingly turn their essays into therapy sessions that are inappropriate for the purposes of a college application. But something happened to me recently that changed my mind. Almost one year ago, my father died from brain cancer.

The death of his father was a major, life-changing moment that clearly shaped who this student is today. After finishing the essay, I reflected on whether or not this writing sample would pass muster in a college admissions office. Did the essay successfully demonstrate the student’s personal qualities and characteristics?

Is it OK to Write about Death in Your College Application Essay? If you were to ask an admissions officer if there are any truly “bad” topics to avoid on your college application, chances are you’ll be advised to steer clear from essays about: the tragic loss or grave illness of a close family member.