How to Write a Challenge Essay for College Applications

Short answer: Focus on the overcoming part, not the challenge part.

Longer answer: There’s a natural tendency to overwrite the details of the challenge that needed to be overcome and one or two sentences that barely explain how they overcame it.

Your goal is to use the fewest words possible to set up the hurdle, so that you have more words to share the steps you took, whether they worked, what you did next, etc.

The purpose of all essays is to positively differentiate yourself. Do that by sharing stories that highlight your traits and qualities.

Be selfish. Minimize the words spent talking about others. Share your journey.

Fun fact: You can often sum up the challenge in one sentence.