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How to Write the Overcoming Challenges Essay + Example

April 17, 2023

At some point, most college-bound students are tasked with writing an overcoming challenges essay. The prompt crops up in various forms, as a supplemental short essay about overcoming a challenge, and in as the main essay itself.

Some students may feel inclined to write about a dramatic experience (say, spotting a grizzly bear outside the kitchen window), mistaking the drama of the moment for a significant challenge. Others may get to work, only to realize they don’t have much to say about the time they got a C in P.E. (that dreaded frisbee unit). Students who’ve overcome unspeakable difficulties, like a death in the family, may find that reducing the tragedy to 650 words feels insufficient, or worse—as if they’re attempting to profit from suffering. One or two students may stare down the blank computer screen as their entire existence shrinks to the size of a 12-point font. Should they write about the challenge of writing about the challenge of writing an overcoming challenges essay??

Don’t worry. Focusing first on how to tackle the essay will help any student decide what they should write about. In fact, how the essay is written will also prove more influential than the challenge itself in determining the strength of the essay.

Decoding the Prompt

Let’s take a look at the overcoming challenges essay question included among the seven 2023-24 Common App Essay Prompts :

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Notice how the prompt places an immediate emphasis on the “lessons we take,” rather than on the obstacles themselves, or any potential success. This is because the challenge itself often says less about the student than the way the student chose to tackle it, or the way they now reflect on it. In other words, obstacles often come at us randomly; it’s our personal response to the circumstances which reveals something of who we are.

While studying a prompt for clues, it’s helpful to think from the perspective of the admissions officer (the essay reader). What can they glean from an overcoming challenges essay?  A lot, actually. A thoughtfully written essay may tell them about the student’s personality, as well as things like problem-solving techniques, rigor, persistence, creativity, and courage. These insights can work to prove to the admissions officers that the student has what it takes to overcome challenges in college, too. These future challenges may range from the inevitable academic obstacles that occur with heavy courseloads, to social and moral challenges that arise as college students form their adult identities.

Picking Your Topic: A Brainstorming Activity

With the question of identity in mind, let’s now approach the overcoming challenges essay backwards, by brainstorming the final message the student wants it to contain.

For this three-part exercise, the student will first set a five-minute timer. With the clock ticking, they’ll jot down character traits, values, and any descriptive words or terms that say something about who they are. If stumped, change perspective. The student may imagine what their best friends, parents, coaches and siblings would say. (For example, tenacious , logical , scientific , peacemaker .) Even mild criticism can be helpful, as long as it’s not cruel. While a student’s brother may call him a “perfectionist,” perhaps this word will trigger other relevant words, like persistent and detail-oriented.

Next, the student will set the timer for another five minutes, pull out a second sheet of paper, and jot down any challenges, obstacles, setbacks, failures, and achievements that come to mind. Don’t hold back here or overanalyze. (For example: underdog at state swim meet , getting lost on the family hike , petitioning for a school compost system …)

Lastly, the student will place the two pages side by side, and draw lines between the items on the list wherever connections occur. One student may draw lines between persistent , curious , gamer , passionate about electronics , and saved the day during the power outage. Another set of lines might connect caring, observant, creative thinker , and helped sister leave abusive cult . Whatever ideas are sparked here, the goal is to identify which challenges will demonstrate something essential about the student to an admissions officer.

Topics to Avoid

The internet is rife with advice on what not to write when writing an overcoming challenges essay. Yet this advice can be confusing, or downright hypocritical. For instance, some may advise against writing about death. Yet a student who lost their father at an early age may be capable of writing a poignant essay about their search for an alternative father figure, and how they found one in their soccer coach.

I suggest avoiding guides on what not to write until after the student has done a thorough round of brainstorming. Otherwise, they risk censoring themselves too early, and may reject a promising idea. Once they’ve narrowed down their list to three ideas or less, they may want to check our guide on College Application Essay Topics to Avoid .

The reason why certain types of overcoming challenges essays miss the mark is that they emphasize the wrong aspect of the experience, which turns the topic into a cliché. While it’s generally a good idea to avoid trivial topics (again, that C in P.E.), any topic has the potential to be compelling, if it’s animated through personal opinions, insight, and description. Details bring an experience to life. Structure and reflection make an essay convincing. In other words, how the story is told will determine whether or not the topic is worth writing about.

So, rather than avoid specific topics, consider avoiding these scenarios: if you can’t show the essay to your best friend or grandmother, it’s probably not ready to show a college admissions officer. If you must write a clichéd topic, don’t choose a typical structure.

Techniques to Hone

Techniques that animate an overcoming challenges essay are the same ones used in storytelling. Think setting, visuals, sounds, dialogue, physical sensations, and feelings. “Showing” instead of “telling.” Crafting the essay with these inner and external details will bring the challenge to life, and catch the reader’s attention.

Another technique which works well when trying to avoid the trappings of cliché involve subverting the reader’s expectations. In storytelling terms, this is a plot twist. The student who got a C in P.E. may actually have a stellar essay on their hands, if they can break away from the “bad grade” trope (working harder to improve their grade). Perhaps this student’s story is actually about how, while sitting on the bleachers and not participating in the game, they found themselves watching the frisbee spin through the air, and realized they had a deep interest in the movement of astronomical bodies.

Some of the strongest overcoming challenges essays demonstrate what students have learned about themselves, rather than what they’ve learned about the obstacle they confronted. These essays may show how the student has come to see themselves differently, or how they’ve decided to change, thanks to the challenge they faced. These essays work because the reflection is natural and even profound, based on the student’s self-awareness.

Writing the Overcoming Challenges Essay, or Drafts, Drafts, Drafts

Everyone writes differently, some by outlining (never a bad idea), some by free-styling (good for capturing sensations and memories), some by lighting a candle—but don’t procrastinate too much. The only “must” is to revise. After a first draft, the student should begin to look for several things:

1) Clarity and Detail. Is the challenge recounted with precision? Is it personal?

2) Structure. Consider mapping the structure, to visualize it better. Does the structure suit the story? Can it be changed for clarity, or to keep the reader more engaged?

3) Cliché. Identify words, sentences, and ideas that are dull or repetitive. Mark them up, and in the next draft, find ways to rewrite, subvert, condense, and delete.

4) Lesson Learned. Has the student reflected adequately on the lesson they learned from overcoming a challenge? To add more reflection, students might ask themselves what they have felt and thought about the experience since. Would they do something differently, if faced with the same challenge? Has their understanding of the experience evolved over time?

By the final draft, the experience and the reflection should feel equally weighted. To get there, it may take five or six drafts.

Overcoming Challenges Essay Sample

The Happiness Hotline

First there were reports. Then we were told to stop socializing, go inside, wait. Covid struck. Everyone knows what ensued. It probably looked different from where we were all (separately) standing, even though we faced the same thing. Those first weeks, I stood at my bedroom window. It was dark by early evening in Oregon. The weirdest part—after the fact that we were collectively sharing the loneliest experience of our lives—was the silence.

… it was really quiet.

So quiet, I could hear my mom sigh downstairs. (So quiet, I couldn’t remember if I’d hummed aloud, or if I’d just heard myself in my head.) When I looked out the window, I could hear the stoplight at the end of our street. Green to yellow. Click.

Before going on, you should know three things. First, this is not a Covid essay. This is about melancholy, and the “sadness that has taken on lightness,” to quote Italo Calvino. Second, from my bedroom window, I can see down a row of oak trees, past the hospital, to my friend Carlo’s house. Third, Carlo is a jazz singer. Maybe that sounds pretentious, a freshman kid being a jazz singer, but that’s Carlo, and I wouldn’t be me without Carlo being Carlo. He’s someone who appreciates the unhinged rhythm of a Charlie Parker tune. He’s an extrovert who can bring introverts like me out of my shell. He convinced me to learn trombone, and together we riff in the after-school jazz club.

In the first month of the pandemic, we called each other nightly to talk rap albums, school stuff. At Carlo’s house, he could hear a white-crowned sparrow. He could also hear his parents talking numbers behind the bathroom door. The death toll was mounting. The cost of living was going up too. As the month wore on, I began to hear something else in our calls, in the way Carlo paused, or forgot what he was saying. Carlo was scared. He felt sad, isolated, and without his bright energy, I too, felt utterly alone.

Overcoming Challenges Essay Sample (Continued)

After some dark days, I realized that to help ourselves we needed to help others. It was pretty obvious the more I thought about it. People are social creatures, supposedly, even introverts. Maybe our neighbors needed to remember the noisiness of life.

We built a happiness hotline. That sounds fancy, though essentially, we provided three-way calls on my parents’ landline. The harder part involved making flyers and putting them up around town, in places people were still going. Grocery stores, the post office. We made a TikTok account, and then—the phone rang. Our first caller.

For months, if you called in, you could talk to us about your days in lockdown. People went really deep about the meaning of life, and we had to learn on the spot how to respond. I’d become a journalist and a therapist before becoming a sophomore. After chatting, the caller would request a song, and if we knew how to play it, we would. If not, we improvised.

Now we’re seniors in high school. Carlo visits the hospital with band members. As for myself, I’ve been working on a community music book, compiling our callers’ favorite tunes. I don’t want to forget how important it felt to make these connections. Our callers taught me that loneliness is a bit like a virus, a bit like a song. Even when it stops it can come back to haunt you, as a new variant or an old refrain. Still, sadness can take on lightness when voices call through the dark: sparrows, friends, strangers. I learned I’m good at listening into the silence. Listening isn’t only a passive stance, but an open line of receiving.

Analysis of the Overcoming Challenges Essay Sample

This student uses their musical passion to infuse the essay with vivid detail. There’s a focus on sound throughout, from the bird to the stoplight. Then there are the callers, and the clever way the student conceived of breaking through the silence. The narrator’s voice sharpens the piece further, elevating a clichéd Covid essay to a personal story of self-discovery.

In fact, the essay briefly breaks with structure to tell the reader that this is not a Covid essay. Although techniques like this should be used sparingly, it works here by grabbing the reader’s attention. It also allows the student to organize their thoughts on the page, before moving the plot along.

Outwardly, the student is overcoming the challenge of loneliness in a time of quarantine. Yet there seems to be an inner, unspoken challenge as well, that of coming to terms with the student’s introverted personality. The essay’s reflection occurs in the final paragraph, making the essay experience-heavy. However, clues woven throughout point to the reflection that will come. Details like the Italo Calvino quote hint at the later understanding of how to alleviate loneliness. While some readers might prefer more development, the various themes are threaded throughout, which makes for a satisfying ending.

A Last Word on the Short Essay About Overcoming Challenges

The short essay about overcoming a challenge requires the same steps as a longer one. To write it, follow the same brainstorming activity, then focus more on condensing and summarizing the experience. Students who’ve already written a longer overcoming challenges essay can approach the short essay about overcoming a challenge by streamlining. Instead of deleting all the extra bits, keep two interesting details that will flavor the essay with something memorable and unique.

• College Essay

Kaylen Baker

With a BA in Literary Studies from Middlebury College, an MFA in Fiction from Columbia University, and a Master’s in Translation from Université Paris 8 Vincennes-Saint-Denis, Kaylen has been working with students on their writing for over five years. Previously, Kaylen taught a fiction course for high school students as part of Columbia Artists/Teachers, and served as an English Language Assistant for the French National Department of Education. Kaylen is an experienced writer/translator whose work has been featured in Los Angeles Review, Hybrid, San Francisco Bay Guardian, France Today, and Honolulu Weekly, among others.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, writing an essay about overcoming a challenge.

I've faced a few significant challenges in my life, and I'm considering writing my college essay about one. How do I choose which challenge to write about, and what advice do you have for making sure that my essay comes across as authentic and impactful, rather than just a sob story?

When choosing which challenge to write about, consider the following factors: the uniqueness of the challenge, the lessons learned from it, and the personal growth that resulted. Select an experience that showcases your resilience and maturity. Additionally, focusing on a challenge that connects with your academic goals or future aspirations may make your essay more relevant to college admissions officers.

To ensure your essay comes across as authentic and impactful, avoid dwelling on the negative aspects of the challenge. Instead, focus on the positive outcomes, such as the problem-solving skills, determination, or empathy you developed. Make sure to create a balance between narrating the challenge itself and the growth that followed it. Show how the experience shaped you and contributed to your current strengths. Finally, don't be afraid to inject your own voice and personal style into the essay – this will help make it unique and unforgettable. Good luck with your essay!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’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.

Essays About Challenges: Top 11 Examples and Prompts

We come across many challenges we must endure throughout life. If you want to write essays about challenges, start by reading some of our top essay examples.

Everyone has had to deal with obstacles or challenges at some point. Some people can overcome hurdles with confidence and bravery, while many others have difficulty trying to face them. However, the challenges we have faced are, without a doubt, a central part of who we are today. Overcoming challenges can make you a better person. The lessons you learn from them are essential for future success, and as with all other experiences, these challenges help form you into the person you are today. They can also be exciting to some, as they test your skills and capabilities. 

If you are writing essays about challenges, look at our featured essay examples below. 

1. Personal Challenges by Delores Goodwin

2. life’s struggles make us stronger – and happier – if we let them by helen g. rousseau, 3. how to overcome your challenges with openness and courage by tony fahkry.

• 4.  ​​Life: full of challenges by Vaibhav Jain

5. Challenges Facing Public Schools by Lewis Rios

1. challenges i have faced, 2. lessons learned from challenges, 3. how to change your attitude towards challenge, 4. helping others overcome challenges and adversity, 5. challenges faced in your home country, 6. challenges the world currently faces.

“A challenge will tell an individual more about themselves than anything else in life. Am I a quitter? How much adversity can I take? How badly do I want this? What is my breaking point? Where does my loyalty end? Challenge can ask us hundreds of questions and forces us to answer honestly. Challenges end the talk and make one walk the walk. Create challenges for yourself, it will cause you to see who you really are.”

Challenges are a necessity of life despite the hardship and stress they come with, and Goodwin discusses this in her essay. A great accomplishment cannot be made without a challenge. Without challenges, one becomes complacent, so we must keep facing challenges to keep us mentally and physically strong. Goodwin encourages readers to challenge themselves more to help them delve deeper into who they are. For more, check out these essays about life challenges .

“Every human being has been in this place at one time or another. Sometimes depression can make it more difficult to get away from the edge but any spark of light or encouragement should be used to seek help physically, emotionally or spiritually. When we face a crisis, it effects the all of who we are and thus must be met with our total beings.”

Rousseau reflects on overcoming adversity, recalling when she met with two former coworkers. They talked about their lives, families, and struggles during lunch. They could bond over their shared positive, confident mindset, allowing them to overcome challenges. Rousseau clarifies that if you put your mind to it, you can overcome anything and closes her essay with two of her poems about resilience. 

“Instead of running away from your emotions, lean into them and experience them fully. This transforms your fears and anxiety into empowering emotions. Let go of what you believe life owes you. It owes you nothing since you are the expression of life. Rise to your challenges armed with courage and an open mind. Remain confident that your experiences are serving your personal growth.”

Fahkry explains how to face challenges without stress and suffering. He reminds us that, first of all, we have free will, so we do not have to feel the way we do if we put our minds to it. We cannot change our reality once it is already there, so feeling sad or angry for prolonged periods is useless. If we change our mindsets for the better, we can overcome all adversity. Our fear and anxiety can be turned into confidence, empowerment, and courage. Check out these essays about competition .

4.  ​​ Life: full of challenges by Vaibhav Jain

“A person who has not encountered difficulties in life can never achieve success. Difficulties test the courage, patience, perseverance, and true character of a human being. Adversity and hardships make a person strong and ready to face the challenges of life with equanimity. There is no doubt that there can be no gain without pain. It is only when one toils and sweats it out that success is nourished and sustained.”

In his short essay, Jain writes about the wonders of life as well as its challenges. He likens life to a bed of roses, complete with painful thorns. In general, life is good, but adversity and challenges are prevalent. These two concepts seem different, but one cannot exist without the other. As with the previous essays, Jain explains that challenges make us stronger and help us feel successful and relieved: “there can be no gain without pain.” Without challenges, we take the better parts of life for granted; if we accept and overcome our struggles, we can live life to the fullest.

“In conclusion, public educational institutions experience many challenges ranging from budgetary constraints, student violence and low parental involvement. Much research needs to be done to establish why these problems exist in the first place and lasting solutions for these institutions.”

Rios’ essay explores challenges in an education system; he proposes research on the constraints of the U.S. public school system. Public schools face several economic and social challenges, such as insufficient funding and lack of parental involvement due to many students’ working-class backgrounds. Rios wishes for more research on these problems and possible solutions. 

Writing Prompts On Essays about Challenges

In this essay, write about a challenge you previously encountered and how you dealt with it. Provide context by describing the events leading up to it, how it happened, and, most importantly, how you overcame it. Then, describe how you felt after- were you relieved, stressed, or tired? You can also discuss how this experience has affected you today. 

Challenges can teach us a lot about life and the world. Reflect on a challenge you faced previously and what you learned from it, whether positive or negative. As with the previous prompt, feel free to include ways in which the lesson you learned affects you today. 

How can you best handle the challenges you may face? Describe the ideal attitude one would need to overcome complex challenges. For example, what qualities would you need to have- courage, prudence, or sensibility? Regardless of what type of attitude you choose to write about, your essay will be substantive if you can adequately support your argument. 

In your essay, you can write about a time you were able to help someone facing a challenge. Who did you help- a friend, family member, or someone else? Then, write about how you helped them, how it made you feel, and how it has impacted your life. 

Research one particular challenge your country is facing today, whether that be an economic, social, or political issue. Discuss how this challenge occurred and what began the difficulties. If applicable, include multiple viewpoints on the issue and include information from credible sources. You can also propose possible solutions to this issue. 

Humanity faces challenges on a massive scale, from a climate change crisis to possible third world war to a global pandemic. Choose one challenge the world faces today and write your essay about it. As with the previous prompt, write about the causes and responses to this challenge, and feel free to propose a solution. 

Check out our guide packed full of transition words for essays .

ProWritingAid is one of our top grammar checkers. Find out why in this ProWritingAid review .

Martin is an avid writer specializing in editing and proofreading. He also enjoys literary analysis and writing about food and travel.

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How to Answer the Essay Prompt "Describe a Challenge You Overcame"

Late fall is officially college admissions season! Some students have already sent in their early decision applications and are working hard on those regular decision deadlines, which means it may be time to work on your essays.

These essays from the Common App , Coalition App , or your prospective school’s specific format can vary in topic, and you may get to choose what you write about. But no matter the school or set of schools to which you’re applying, you will likely come across a version of the “Describe a Challenge You Overcame” or “Overcoming a Challenge” essay prompt.

For some people, the answer to this could be evident. But if you have no idea what to write about, the first rule is:

Don’t panic

So many students are plagued with questions like: What if I’ve never overcome an obstacle? Is my life boring? What if I have nothing to write about, and the admissions officers hate me? What if they judge me for what I've been through?

Deep breath.

All of these fears are normal, but everyone has overcome some sort of challenge or obstacle, whether small or completely overwhelming. By being authentic to yourself, yours will be compelling to readers and help them get to know the kind of student you are now and will be at their college or university.

You will need more than panicking to help you write an essay. Remember that everyone has something valuable to say, and the obstacle you choose will matter less than your ability to write about it and highlight your resilience.

Brainstorm an authentic but impactful challenge

The first thing you'll need to do is think through some challenges you’ve faced . 

A challenge can be as seemingly simple as learning to trust yourself after a failure in school or an extracurricular activity or as complicated as overcoming significant discrimination and prejudice.

You had to overcome a specific fear to succeed at an activity you love. You may have had to rebuild your life after losing a relative. Maybe your family moved, which shook up your life. Or, receiving one terrible grade or criticism led you to change your outlook on life and motivated you to work harder than ever.

Whatever the obstacle you face (no inventing, please), it should be impactful.

That means thinking of a challenge that changed something about you. As a result of overcoming this obstacle, you should have learned significant lessons about yourself or the world around you and made changes in your life.

Colleges and universities want to know what traits you possess that will help you succeed in college and your future career, so the obstacle you choose to share should have helped you develop one of your defining traits. They will care more about your reaction to this challenge, how it shaped you, and how you articulate it than what the problem was in the first place.

Generally, the obstacle you choose to share should also be pretty recent or have had a current impact on your life, rather than a challenge that happened when you were very young that doesn’t impact you today.

Begin at the end

The opening sentence of your essay about overcoming a challenge should be compelling and make the reader want to continue. It can be tempting to tell the story chronologically, but it can sometimes be adequate to start with the ending or a positive memory.

So, think about when you overcame your challenge or realized that you had improved after facing an obstacle. You might even share a moment when you realized your chosen barrier significantly. Recount this moment as your introductory hook in some way.

You can even preview the lessons you learned in your introduction. That way, readers already know that you will share what you’ve learned rather than just share a story recounting a terrible moment or difficult challenge in your life. This can also make them want to keep reading to see how you got to that place.

Share context about the situation but make it brief

You want the reader to learn about you and your challenges rather than overdoing it in detail. They don't need to know every step of the process or every player in the story.

Of course, you should share the context behind what happened to you that challenged you and changed your life or perspective, but you should not dwell too much on the details. Provide only the ‘need to know’ moments and how they led to changes in your life.

With this kind of essay, readers want to know less about what happened and more about what you learned due to your experience.

Focus on what you learned

Your reflection about what you learned due to your experience should be your primary focus within your essay. This section will help readers understand how you’ve changed after facing your challenge or obstacle to become the stellar student you are today. It can also show the maturity and self-reflection colleges may seek in a student.

By sharing lessons learned in this type of essay, you also share how you will contribute to any college campus with your newly acquired traits and perspectives.

If you had to move from one city to another, perhaps you learned to be flexible or met new friends who helped you discover your fascination with science and technology. If you faced bullying, maybe you learned how to respect yourself without outside validation and gained resilience. Whatever the challenge, the lessons associated with overcoming it are most important.

Share actions you took as a result of overcoming the challenge

To help readers understand how you overcame the challenge and how the lessons you learned tangibly affected your life, you should also consider your actions after overcoming your obstacle.

For example, if you witnessed discrimination at school, you could have founded an anti-bullying campaign or student organization. If you lost a family member to a specific disease, you may have volunteered with an organization to help fund research for a cure.

Remember, all of this information needs to be authentic to your experience. Even the most minor actions can be impactful. So, truth is always best, even if you just learned to treat your family better or significantly improve your grades after facing this obstacle.

Connect the lessons you learned to your future

Finally, you can strengthen your response even more by connecting the lessons you learned and actions you took with your future goals.

Think about how you will show up in college after facing this challenge. And consider how you are better equipped now to achieve your future goals because of the lessons you learned. You can then tie this into how attending each college will help you reach those goals.

Seek support!

Admissions officers should never be the first people to read your essay. Get help from a teacher or college counselor, your parents or guardians, an online college essay writing site like Prompt , or fellow scholars like other NSHSS members   before you hit "submit." 

Have them read your essay and provide you with constructive feedback about content and structure. If you're stuck, you can ask for some "overcoming an obstacle" essay examples or ideas from those who know you well.

Then, submit your essay and enjoy that feeling of accomplishment!

Answering the essay prompt "Describe a Challenge You Overcame" offers a unique opportunity to showcase your resilience, growth, and problem-solving skills. By focusing on the specifics of the challenge, the steps you took to overcome it, and the lessons you learned, you'll answer the prompt effectively and make a lasting impression on the admissions team.

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One Expert's Advice to Help You Write a Strong Overcoming Adversity Essay

Leslie Tucker PhD, Jun 07, 2021

Learn how to pick the right adversity story and write an impressive overcoming adversity essay

Whether you’re working on college or scholarship applications, you’re bound to come across the overcoming adversity essay sooner or later. While every type of college application essay is unique, the overcoming adversity essay presents particular challenges for students.

What’s the best way to talk about the adversity in your life? What if you come off as too whiny? What if you don’t have any significant obstacles to write about? Will you be at a disadvantage?

Every year, my students ask me how to tackle this tricky part of their college applications. Luckily for you, I’ve developed a fool-proof approach for writing the overcoming adversity essay , and I’m eager to share it.

Keep reading to learn why the adversity essay is important, how to choose the best topic, and how to write an impactful overcoming adversity essay.

Why the overcoming adversity essay is important

When colleges ask you to write a personal hardship essay, what are they trying to learn? Many students think they’re trying to find and admit the applicants who have faced the most adversity. Not true! Trust me, the adversity essay is NOT a competition to see who has it worse.

The purpose of the overcoming adversity essay is to reveal how you respond to difficult situations. Think about it. College is hard—not everyone has what it takes to succeed. Colleges want to accept students who have the skills and resilience to persevere through the adversity they’re bound to face.

So when an admissions officer reads your adversity essay, they’re trying to answer these questions:

●      How do you manage stress?

●      How do you attempt to resolve adversity?

●      How do you reflect on the challenges you face?

●      How do you apply lessons to your life?

If you can successfully answer these questions, you’ll write a stand-out overcoming adversity essay.

Not sure how to recognize an overcoming adversity essay prompt? Here are a few examples.

The Common App

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

The University of Miami

Considering your ability to control your own motivation and behavior, how have past experiences helped build your courage and resilience to persist in the face of academic and life challenges so that, once these storms pass, you can emerge in continued pursuit of your goals?

The University of California

Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?

How to select the best story for your overcoming adversity essay

Choosing what to write your overcoming adversity essay about can be a challenge. The hardest things you’ve faced in life might not actually be the best topics. So I always encourage students to brainstorm lots of ideas before committing to one.

Here’s what I suggest. Sit down with a family member or close friend. Write a list of all the adversity you’ve faced—big and small. From challenging school projects to your parents divorce to the death of a family member, add everything you can think of to your list.

Next, you’ll want to remember and record how you reacted to each of the obstacles on your list. What were you thinking? What actions did you take?

To choose your adversity essay story, you’ll actually focus on your reactions list. Search for the instances when you showed impressive grit, strength, resilience, and problem-solving skills. These are the best stories to use for your overcoming adversity essay.

Weak topics for your adversity essay

As you’re selecting which topic to write about, beware of choosing a story that falls into one of these categories.

●      Adversity you faced due to COVID or virtual learning—everyone dealt with these circumstances, so it’s not a unique topic and won’t help you stand out.

●      Obstacles you dealt with in elementary or middle school—it’s a bit too outdated. Find a more recent instance of your grit and resilience.

●      Interpersonal struggles you had with a teacher or coach—these essays can come off like you don’t get along well with adults, which isn’t the impression you want to give.

Strong topics for your adversity essay

Any story that shows your maturity and problem-solving skills is a good choice for your overcoming adversity essay. Even so, there are few topics that might be better options for you than others, depending on your circumstances.

●      Ongoing obstacles you’re still facing but you’re handling well—important if this obstacle will carry on into college.

●      Adversity that interfered with your academic achievement—important if you had a GPA dip you’d like to explain.

●      Something that will resonate with the school you’re applying to or the career you’re pursuing—important if adversity drove you to choose a specific type of school or major.

How to write an impressive overcoming adversity essay

Now we’ve arrived at my fool-proof overcoming adversity essay formula. Once you’ve chosen the right story that demonstrates your resilience, just apply this formula to create a memorable adversity essay.

This formula is simple. It’s all about crafting a narrative. Remember, you’re telling the story of when you faced an obstacle. So you want it to sound like a real story, not a school report.

Here is the five-step formula to writing the perfect overcoming adversity essay.

• Introduce the obstacle or adversity
• Describe your emotional response
• Discuss the actions you took to face the problem
• Share the outcome of the situation
• Reveal what you learned from the experience

See? It’s a piece of cake. Now let’s see how it looks applied to an adversity story.

• The adversity: My family moved across the country between my sophomore and junior year.
• Emotional response: I was devastated to lose my friends and scared to start over in a new place.
• Actions taken: I scheduled regular talks and virtual hang outs with my old friends to ensure we’d stay in touch. Then I pushed myself to join two clubs at the beginning of the school year.
• Outcome: I stayed connected with friends from home. And even though it was intimidating to make new friends, putting myself out there helped me quickly meet people who shared my interests. I felt less alone and adjusted to my new environment sooner than I expected.
• Lessons learned: I am stronger and more adaptable than I thought I was. I am capable of thriving in new places and creating a new community for myself wherever I go.

With extremely little effort, I made a strong outline for an adversity essay using this formula. You can do the same!

Dos and don’ts for your overcoming adversity essay

The formula will take you a long way in structuring your adversity essay, but here are a few additional tips and tricks to make sure your writing is outstanding.

●       Don’t try to garner sympathy or pity —be honest about what happened, but remember your purpose isn’t to make the reader feel bad for you.

●       Do maintain a positive and upbeat tone throughout your adversity essay.

●       Don’t spend too much time describing the problem —keep it brief and to the point.

●       Do focus the majority of the essay on how you responded to and resolved the obstacle.

●       Don’t forget to include the outcome and the lessons you learned —self reflection is impressive to application readers.

●       Do connect what you learned with your future in college or in your chosen career.

Remember, one of the great things about the overcoming adversity essay is that you’re telling a story. You’re not making an argument or delivering an informational report. Once you have your story and the structure in place, have fun with the rest!

Final thoughts about the overcoming adversity essay

I’ll never say writing a college application essay is easy. But hopefully I’ve convinced you that the overcoming adversity essay isn’t as intimidating as it seems. In fact, I hope you have an enjoyable time writing your adversity essay and celebrating your resilience. Be proud of yourself. You are amazing!

I want to hear from you! What are your thoughts and concerns about the overcoming adversity essay? Drop a comment below, and I’ll be happy to address them.

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Why This Common App Essay Worked: Prompt #2 “The Lessons We Take…”

Working on your Common App essay and thinking about this prompt? Then read on to learn how to answer this in a compelling essay and read two examples of essays that worked!

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Everyone has faced obstacles of some kind: a struggle with health, a failed personal project, or a financial hardship. This prompt is relevant to most people applying to college – which isn’t a bad thing. 

The most important part of writing a personal statement is to show admissions committees how you think about the world and respond to challenges rather than to come up with an entirely new angle or topic. That being said, you probably should not write about a time that you received a bad grade or lost a sports game. Those narratives are overdone and won’t allow admissions officers to get insight into your unique perspective.

What colleges want to see is your ability to be mature, resilient, and thoughtful; they want evidence that you are able to handle the independence and challenges of college. Show the admissions committee how you faced an obstacle, but responded with a creative and dignified solution instead of giving up. Be vulnerable – show your insecurity, regret, and fears. Finally, as indicated in the prompt, describe what you learned and the experience’s permanent significance. If you can’t think of such an impact, you probably shouldn’t be writing your personal statement about the situation. Remember, your personal statement is like your introduction – make sure you’re telling them an important story! 

The linearity of this prompt allows you to follow a pretty straightforward outline for your essay: context, obstacle, reaction, result. Putting these parts together, you’ll have a well constructed personal essay! We outlined the basic questions that should be answered in response to this prompt by component (context, obstacle, reaction, and result), but these are fluid and may be placed in whatever section makes the most sense for your narrative. 

Below, CollegeVine breaks down a finalized version of a real essay that we worked on with a student who addressed this prompt. 

Make Sure to Establish Enough Context

Outline the situation leading up to the event.  Make sure you hit the basics: who, what, where, why? It is also important to note whatever your pre-state was.

For example, the author of the sample essay overcame his fear of public speaking to pay tribute to a beloved coach. This triumph would have been much less meaningful had he not outlined his fear earlier in the essay. You need to give the admissions committee enough detail to understand how you evolved.

“Getting beat is one thing – it’s part of competing – but I want no part in losing.” Coach Rob Stark’s motto never fails to remind me of his encouragement on early-morning bus rides to track meets around the state. I’ve always appreciated the phrase, but an experience last June helped me understand its more profound, universal meaning.

Stark, as we affectionately call him, has coached track at my high school for 25 years. His care, dedication, and emphasis on developing good character has left an enduring impact on me and hundreds of other students. Not only did he help me discover my talent and love for running, but he also taught me the importance of commitment and discipline and to approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running. When I learned a neighboring high school had dedicated their track to a longtime coach, I felt that Stark deserved similar honors.

Here, the author describes why he was so fond of his coach as well as his desire to dedicate the school track to Stark. He hits the who (Coach Stark), what (desire to dedicate the track in Stark’s honor), where (high school), and why (the important lessons that Stark has imparted). 

The author also hints at his future personal development – “to approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running.” He also implies that he will fail to meet his original goal in the opening quote, “ getting beat is one thing – it’s part of competing – but I want no part in losing.” Hinting at the lesson you will eventually learn is an effective strategy. It allows to admissions committees to read your personal statement with the final lesson in mind, making the essay simpler to follow and priming the reader so that your conclusion is easy to understand.

The author comes across as caring by wishing to dedicate the track to his coach, thoughtful in the way he is aware of the impact that Stark has had on him, and driven in his ability to identify and pursue a selfless project. These qualities will appeal to a college admissions committee which wishes to build an intellectual and kind community on campus.

Clearly Define the Obstacle

Who or what got in your way? To what extent were you responsible for the obstacle?

Our school district’s board of education indicated they would only dedicate our track to Stark if I could demonstrate that he was extraordinary. I took charge and mobilized my teammates to distribute petitions, reach out to alumni, and compile statistics on the many team and individual champions Stark had coached over the years. We received astounding support, collecting almost 3,000 signatures and pages of endorsements from across the community. With help from my teammates, I presented this evidence to the board.

They didn’t bite.

Here, the author makes it clear that he came up with a plan in which he felt confident. The author does a good job of showing, rather than telling, the ways in which he addressed the issue at hand. Instead of saying he put together a plan, the author lists individual efforts that he took, which allows the reader a fuller understanding of the lengths to which he went. This is crucial as it gives the admissions committee better insight into the way in which the author approaches lofty goals; he uses many approaches (petitions, alumni testimonies, and statistics) to support his argument. 

The short and separated sentence – “ They didn’t bite.” – comes as a contrast to the long list of preparations that the author had organized. It implies that the board was both curt and absolute in their rejection of his plan. Here, we learn of the real obstacle – and lesson – that the essay focuses on: the importance of not giving up. The message of the opening line of the essay – “G etting beat is one thing – it’s part of competing – but I want no part in losing,” – is relevant here. The author experienced initial failure, but isn’t passively accepting a loss just yet. In the next paragraph, the author describes how he tried to persuade the school board a second time. 

Go In-depth About Your Reaction

This is the most important part. Colleges want to know how you think about things or handle stressful situations!

Did you make a plan? Collaborate with teammates? Have an open conversation with your parents? How did you work around the challenge? It is important to also describe your emotional response; were you hurt, invigorated, sad, angry, surprised? In what ways did you handle this emotion? Was your response mature? What was your first (emotional) response? How did your thoughts or feelings change over time? Finally, what plan did you make?

Most members argued that dedicating the track was a low priority. Knowing that we had to act quickly to convince them of its importance, I called a team meeting where we drafted a rebuttal for the next board meeting. To my surprise, they chose me to deliver it. I was far from the best public speaker in the group, and I felt nervous about going before the unsympathetic board again. However, at that second meeting, I discovered that I enjoy articulating and arguing for something that I’m passionate about.

Public speaking resembles a cross country race. Walking to the starting line, you have to trust your training and quell your last minute doubts. When the gun fires, you can’t think too hard about anything; your performance has to be instinctual, natural, even relaxed. At the next board meeting, the podium was my starting line. As I walked up to it, familiar butterflies fluttered in my stomach. Instead of the track stretching out in front of me, I faced the vast audience of teachers, board members, and my teammates. I felt my adrenaline build, and reassured myself: I’ve put in the work, my argument is powerful and sound. As the board president told me to introduce myself, I heard, “runners set” in the back of my mind. She finished speaking, and Bang! The brief silence was the gunshot for me to begin.  

In this section, the author shows the admissions committee how resilient he is by organizing a rebuttal to the board’s initial ruling. The detail about being selected by his team to present is also crucial; it shows that he has been identified by his peers as a leader. 

Moreover, his hesitation to present (his pre-state) is essential to the later connection he makes between running and speaking publicly with ease. He handles a negative emotion (nervousness) with ease and maturity, reframing it as an opportunity to be a powerful speaker and sound orator. Crucially, the author doesn’t just tell us that he’s nervous, but brings us into the physical and psychological experience.

This detailed description allows the reader to empathize with the author; we have all experienced nervousness and know how difficult it can be to overcome, and the author allows the reader to mentally enter an anxious state. Putting the reader into your emotional experience (here, being anxious) makes whatever reaction you have (here, speaking well in front of a group of people) seem more impressive. Instead of simply telling us that he spoke in front of the board, the author brings us into the room with him to highlight his accomplishments!

The author also makes a connection to overcoming his fear of public speaking to performing well under pressure at track meets. In this way, the author is able to connect all of the valuable life skills that track taught him without doing so in a cliche or contrived fashion. This connection is creative and ties the narrative back in with the essay’s broader themes. It shows the admissions committee that the author is capable of understanding how and why he behaves the way he does, which is a sign of maturity. Colleges are more interested in how you think about the things you do than they are interested in the things you do. 

Colleges want to see that you have an optimistic and opportunistic approach to obstacles. People generally like people who are positive, which the author certainly comes across as here. Instead of being shut down by a challenge, show admissions committees how you used it to fuel your fire!

Discuss the End Result

Talk about to what degree your efforts were successful. Even if you didn’t meet your original goal, what did you learn? Importantly, how are you applying these lessons now?

The next few minutes blurred together, but when the dust settled, I knew from the board members’ expressions and the audience’s thunderous approval that I had run quite a race. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough; the board voted down our proposal. I was disappointed, but proud of myself, my team, and our collaboration off the track. We stood up for a cause we believed in, and I overcame my worries about being a leader. Although I discovered that changing the status quo through an elected body can be a painstakingly difficult process and requires perseverance, I learned that I enjoy the challenges this effort offers. Last month, one of the school board members joked that I had become a “regular” – I now often show up to meetings to advocate for a variety of causes, including better environmental practices in cafeterias and safer equipment for athletes.

Just as Stark taught me, I worked passionately to achieve my goal. I may have been beaten when I appealed to the board, but I certainly didn’t lose, and that would have made Stark proud.

Despite being disappointed in his failure to meet his original goal, the author responds positively: proud of his and his teammates’ hard work. 

The author also addresses his post-state by answering the last question of the prompt (how the obstacle affected you and what you learned from the experience). In this example, the author’s post-state is uncovering a passion for advocacy and evolving into a more confident leader. He outlines specifically the way in which he learned to stand up for the causes he believes in and overcame his fears of public speaking and leadership. 

Importantly, the author’s resiliency is embodied by not being dissuaded by his first unsuccessful attempt to make a change. He shows that he is applying the lessons he learned “to advocate for a variety of causes, including better environmental practices in cafeterias and safer equipment.” This hint at his other interests, environmental and safety policies, encourages the admissions committee to learn more. Ideally, the author’s mention of these interests should be backed up in his activity list – perhaps, for example, through involvement with his school’s Sustainability Club or recent recycling initiative. 

Finally, the author pays respect to the man who first inspired him. Importantly, this essay allows the author to explore all that he learned by being an athlete without writing a cliche essay on the topic. 

Want More Insight?

The original version of this essay along with our edits and higher-level notes can be found in a download here. We’ve also thrown in a second sample essay to help you see more of the same patterns and strategies discussed above in action. For insight on the other prompts, be sure to check out our other Common App posts . 

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

• ACADEMIC ADVICE

12 Problems College Students Face and How To Overcome Them

• May 25, 2023

Table of Contents

Anxiety and depression, time management, homesickness, academic performance, academic decisions, health issues, relationships, social pressure, conclusion: is college worth it all.

College, often perceived as the most exciting phase in one’s life, full of fresh experiences, learning, and personal growth, carries a multitude of obstacles for students to overcome. While the benefits of college are numerous, beneath the surface of this exciting journey are various challenges, ranging from financial constraints to mental health struggles , which can sometimes overshadow the transformative potential of higher education.

Read on as we delve into some common problems college students face and discuss potential strategies to help you overcome such challenges on your quest for success and self-discovery.

Financial troubles can significantly impact students’ college experience. Tuition fees, costly textbooks, accommodation expenses, and daily necessities often strain their budgets.

To overcome this challenge, students must establish a realistic budget for their income and expenses. Students can gain better control over their finances by carefully tracking their spending and pinpointing areas where they can cut back. Additionally, financial aid, scholarships, or a part-time job can ease the financial burden.

The pressure of transitioning to a new environment, in addition to the overall demands of college life, can contribute to elevated anxiety and depression for many college students. Data shows that almost half of college students experience symptoms of depression and anxiety. However, unfortunately, around 75% of those students are reluctant to seek help.

To make help more accessible to their students, many universities offer counseling services and mental health resources. Furthermore, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, engaging in regular exercise, embracing a nutritious diet, and prioritizing adequate sleep can positively impact mental well-being.

Finding the time for academics, extracurricular activities, personal life, and maybe even work can be overwhelming. Constantly juggling multiple responsibilities can leave students feeling stressed, exhausted, and struggling to fulfill their obligations.

To tackle this challenge, students must develop effective time management techniques . Consider creating daily, weekly, or monthly schedules, setting priorities, working on those areas first, and doing your best to avoid procrastination.

Being away from family, friends, and the everyday environment students are used to can create a longing for the sense of security and belonging that home provides. However, connecting with new friends is one of the most effective ways to overcome homesickness. College campuses are swarming with people in the same boat, experiencing homesickness, that can help one another feel less alone.

Additionally, the evolution of technology has made it easier than ever to stay connected with everyone back at home. Regular phone calls and video chats can help narrow the distance between home and college life.

To thrive in college, students must master balancing their personal life, academic responsibilities, and social engagements. Prioritization and setting boundaries are essential in maintaining a healthy balance and preventing stress.

Students might have to say no to specific commitments when they feel overloaded or set aside designated periods for self-care and relaxation. Students must protect their physical and mental well-being and maintain a healthy balance between their various responsibilities.

Academic performance is arguably the most crucial aspect of the college experience. Therefore, the pressure to excel can often be heavy on students. Dealing with the intense workload, rigorous course- and homework, as well as high expectations set by themselves or others in their lives, can lead to stress and self-doubt.

However, students can overcome the challenges related to academic performance by implementing study strategies that are most effective for them, seeking assistance when needed, and prioritizing their overall well-being.

Academic decisions represent another problem in a college student’s journey, shaping the students’ educational paths and influencing their future career opportunities. From selecting their major to arranging their workload and evaluating potential career paths, such decisions can feel daunting and overwhelming.

However, students can persevere by conducting thorough research, exploring their interests, and seeking guidance from academic advisors . They must make informed choices that align with their interests, aspirations, and long-term goals.

Health issues, including irregular sleep patterns, unhealthy eating habits, mental exhaustion, or some illness, significantly affect the students. They must prioritize self-care and make conscious efforts to maintain their health. So, what can students do?

Research shows that getting sufficient rest is crucial for cognitive function, memory retention, and overall well-being. Furthermore, maintaining a balanced diet helps support physical and mental health.

Whenever students have any physical or mental health concerns, it is best to consult with professionals, whether they are part of the university’s health service programs or outside of it.

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The future and what it may bring is a common subject of discussion inside people’s heads. Studies show that the so-called future anxiety is increasingly emerging among students due to fear of failure and lack of job opportunities. So, looking ahead to the future can be a source of anxiety and uncertainty for college students.

Students can actively engage in career exploration activities to relieve their worries about the future. Attending career fairs, networking events, and workshops can provide valuable insights into various industries and offer guidance on potential career paths.

Building and maintaining connections with people can be challenging, especially while simultaneously navigating the demands of college life. Therefore, students should actively seek opportunities to meet and connect with others in order to foster meaningful relationships.

Students can facilitate the formation of friendships as well as a general sense of belonging by joining clubs, fraternities, sorority houses, or other organizations related to their interests. Furthermore, participating in campus events and being open to new experiences go a long way in ensuring a balance between social and academic life.

Social pressure is another significant problem that college students may face. It encompasses various forms, including peer pressure, academic pressure, and social expectations, among other sorts.

It is crucial for college students to be aware of these pressures and stay true to their personal values and individuality. Surrounding oneself with supportive friends and seeking guidance from counseling helps lessen the effects of social pressure, thus allowing students to navigate college life authentically and confidently.

Lastly, living with roommates is a common experience for many college students, as are the various problems arising from such living arrangements. The key to maintaining a harmonious relationship with roommates is clear and open communication from the first day.

Students living with roommates must establish and respect each other’s boundaries, as well as discuss expectations. This way, they can all contribute to a healthy and positive living environment.

Despite these 12 problems outlined, college life does offer many great opportunities for personal growth, knowledge acquisition, and self-discovery. College students can overcome the challenges mentioned and make the most of their college experience by seeking support, managing time effectively, prioritizing their well-being, and nurturing relationships.

Ultimately, the answer to the question of whether college is worth it all depends on the student’s individual goals, passions, and circumstances. However, with the right mindset and a proactive approach, college can provide a transformative journey that lays the foundation for a fulfilling future.

Bay Atlantic University

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FSU softball heads to Norman to face Oklahoma in Women's College World Series rematch

Florida State softball left Tallahassee Wednesday morning and is en route to Norman, Oklahoma for its 10th NCAA Super Regional appearance in 11 seasons.

The Seminoles' postseason foe, the No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners, will be waiting for them at Love's Field on Thursday at 7 p.m.

To continue its path to the Women's College World Series , the Seminoles must take out the seven-time defending champs that are in search of its fourth straight title.

Thursday's Super Regionals will be a rematch of last year's World Series and the 2021 season . It will also be the second time in school history that FSU traveled to play in Norman.

FSU won its home regional last week after going 3-0 against Chattanooga , UCF , and Auburn . While for Oklahoma , it defeated Cleveland State in its regional opener and then beat Oregon twice.

FSU softball head coach Lonni Alameda returns to face her former team

Before her prolific coaching career, FSU coach Lonni Alameda was once a Boomer Sooner.

For the second time in her 15 years at FSU, Alameda will be making her return to Norman to face her alma mater.

After starting her college career at St. Mary's University, an NAIA school, she transferred to OU from 1989-92. Alameda played softball and volleyball for the Sooners. She was a two-time All-Big Eight selection as an infielder.

"When you have that super cool connection with your fanbase and your community, the support comes," Alameda said. "The administration saw that at Oklahoma, and they really poured in, and it is really special."

Alameda used that same connection and mindset for 15 years at FSU after replacing JoAnne Graf. She is also pleased with the growth of the sport since her playing when she replayed at a recreational field.

"Just finding the love and the passion for the game, and I think that is definitely what brought me here, and I know Coach (JoAnne) Graf felt that same connection and we were able to blossom it," Alameda said.

Alameda and the rest of the Seminoles look forward to playing at Love's Field for the first time. Love's Field is the new softball home for the Sooners after playing 15 years at Marita Hynes Field.

"I'm excited to see the field," Alameda said. "It looks great on TV. I'm really excited to see the group play there. They are a great ball club and it's going to be a really good opportunity for them. "

Senior Allison Royalty ruled out, pitching staff a concern for FSU

The pitching staff for FSU has been night and day all season long.

One thing Alameda cannot afford is one of her starters going down.

The Seminoles will be without their senior pitcher, Allison Royalty , for the remainder of the tournament, as confirmed by Alameda. Royalty was shaken up in her last game against Auburn when she came in as the relief pitcher.

"That's a little tough one for us," Alameda said about Royalty. "She's going to be fighting in the dugout for everyone and getting after it, so we're really excited."

Royalty has missed time due to a significant injury sustained during the regular season. However, FSU has battled injuries from some of its key players all year.

With Royalty out, the Seminoles could be down two starting pitchers. Sophomore Makenna Reid hasn't played since April 21 and is uncertain when she will make her return.

"It's unfortunate to be bandaged up and kind of banged up in the circle, but these guys have been fighting all season long in the circle, and these guys behind them and offensively get after it," Alameda said. "I just think we just got what we got, and that has been our mindset all year back in February."

Alameda must depend on her two freshmen , Ashtyn Danley and Mimi Gooden. Granted, the two have been battled-tested all season. Alameda is confident enough that her first-year starting pitchers will get through the rest of the tournament.

"I don't think you come here to put your toe in the water to see and see what the temperature is like in your first year," Alameda said. "You only get four years to play, and they want to get after it."

How to watch No. 15 FSU softball at No. 2 Oklahoma

Who:  No. 18 FSU (46-14, 19-5 ACC) vs. No. 2 Oklahoma (52-6, 22-5 in Big 12)

Where:  Thursday, 7 p.m. at Love's Field, Norman, Okla.

TV/Radio:  ESPN 2

Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at [email protected] or on X @_Da_pistol.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU softball gets WCWS rematch against OU in NCAA Softball Tournament

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Northland College lays off 9 faculty under plans to stay open

Private and public institutions make cuts amid budget challenges

Northland College in Ashland is cutting nine faculty members after leaders announced earlier this month that it will remain open amid financial challenges that threatened to close its doors. The college called the cuts a difficult, but essential, step as Northland is restructuring its curriculum and operations. “Northland College is deeply grateful to each of these individuals for their many important contributions to our College and community,” the college said in an email. “We’ve had to make very difficult decisions, but we are confident we are putting the right structure in place to support and sustain Northland into the future.” The move means 31 faculty will remain at Northland under a curriculum that focuses on eight majors, including business, environmental humanities and sustainable community development. The college has also said it will continue its intercollegiate athletics program. Angela Stroud, associate professor of sociology at Northland, said faculty received notice last week. Stroud said she’s among staff losing their positions after she volunteered to leave. She has recently announced her intention to run for the 73rd Assembly District. “I feel sorry for everyone, but some people volunteered,” Stroud said. “I feel really sorry for the people for whom it was a surprise. Some people have put in decades of commitment to the college.”

The college’s faculty handbook outlines that tenured faculty be given one year’s notice before they’re released. Stroud said she and tenured faculty will be paid full salary and benefits for one year. For tenure-track positions, the college is providing 120 days notice, compensation and benefits. Joshua Montgomery, assistant professor of education at Northland, said he wasn’t surprised to be cut since he’s only been with the college for almost two years. Nevertheless, he had held off on pursuing other job offers until he received notice. “We’ll be packing up a moving truck, which my family is not thrilled about,” Montgomery said. “I promised my wife that we wouldn’t move anymore, and my kids are sort of irate with me because they’re tired of making friendships only to have those sundered and have to be the new kid at school again.” He opted to resign rather than be laid off, adding he’s not mad about the cuts. Montgomery, who researches rural school closures, said he recognizes the college isn’t isolated in its financial challenges. Northland’s Board of Trustees has said changes to the college will result in about $7 million in savings.

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The college issued an urgent fundraising appeal in March saying it needed to raise $12 million to avoid closure. The board has raised several million dollars on top of roughly $1.5 million drawn in through its last-ditch fundraising effort. Tax filings show the school has been operating in the red since 2016, reporting a loss of nearly $3.2 million by mid-2022. The college has also said it could no longer rely on its endowment.

Private and public institutions face cuts amid budget challenges

Northland isn’t the only public or private institution in Wisconsin to announce cuts in the face of budget challenges. Many schools are facing constraints due to declining enrollment, rising costs and decreased support. St. Norbert College in De Pere announced 35 layoffs last fall, then in March cut another 12 positions and announced benefits cuts and changes to academic programs. This week, the Green Bay Press-Gazette reported St. Norbert’s President, Laurie Joyner presented a plan to the Board of Trustees on May 13 that would allow the college to cut tenured faculty. In an email to WPR on Tuesday, St. Norbert spokesperson Mike Counter said there are not future plans “at this time” to cut tenured faculty. “St. Norbert is not unique to the headwinds facing higher education. But I can tell you the institution is financially strong, with very little debt and a solid endowment,” Counter said.

He said private colleges like St. Norbert rely heavily on tuition dollars since they don’t receive state funding. Even a relatively small dip in enrollment can cause financial strain.

Small, tuition-dependent private colleges and public universities are on the frontlines of demographic changes, according to Tom Harnisch, vice president for government relations with the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association. Beginning in 2026, institutions will face a “birth dearth” as people had fewer children after the Great Recession in 2008.

“Simply put, they’re drawing from ever-shrinking pipelines of traditional-aged students in many regions of the country, and the Midwest and the Northeast are most impacted by these changes,” Harnisch said. “This is expected to get worse and not better in the years ahead.”

In March, Marquette University announced plans for $31 million in budget cuts over six years.

In April, Concordia University announced it was laying off 24 employees at its Mequon campus amid a deficit ranging from $2 million to $6.3 million in five of the last six years. Earlier this year, the university announced it may have to sell its Michigan campus, but it’s since said its Ann Arbor site will remain open next year. An external report released in April from the Universities of Wisconsin raised concerns about the financial future of multiple state universities.

As for Northland, the college’s enrollment goal for the fall is 385 students, which is down from between 600 and 500 students over the last decade. Both Stroud and Montgomery say early indications are that many students are planning to return to Northland in the fall.

“That, again, I think, speaks to the hard to define magic of Northland,” Montgomery said. “There’s a lot of students who are determined to come back even after having suffered through this spring of our discontent.” Editor’s note: Corrinne Hess contributed reporting to this story.

Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.

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‘The Very Real Insanity of College Admissions’

Readers offer suggestions and personal stories in response to two guest essays.

To the Editor:

Re “ 2024 Was the Year That Finally Broke College Admissions ,” by Daniel Currell (Opinion guest essay, May 5):

While Mr. Currell effectively lays out the current admissions climate, the sunny last-minute outcomes for the two applicants he follows undermine his otherwise valid critiques.

While Ivy was rejected by her early decision school, she was admitted to her second choice, Dartmouth, an Ivy with a 6 percent acceptance rate. Rania, though disappointed with her Barnard rejection, also found herself a terrific outcome at Wesleyan, another highly acclaimed school, with a free ride to boot.

Both of these outcomes are extreme positive outliers these days. Convincing families to temper these kinds of expectations and consider in-state public institutions for cost reasons as well as excellent but more far-flung liberal arts colleges (such as the College of Wooster in rural Ohio) is the task at hand these days.

Following two applicants who actually had to make significant compromises would have more accurately encapsulated the reality check that college-bound kids and parents need in the face of the very real insanity of college admissions these days.

Jamie Berger Turners Falls, Mass. The writer is an independent educational consultant.

After temporarily settling in the U.S., my high schooler fell in love with the idea of the small liberal arts school. She was lucky to have the support of a counselor who constantly affirmed her self-worth, and was admitted to one of her top schools. The process was stressful, and the result is not pain-free; it will require serious lifestyle changes to be able to afford it.

Coming from the Netherlands, where a reputable university education is still quite accessible for about $2,700 in annual tuition for domestic and E.U. students, I find the system here insane at every level — in its lack of transparency, in privileging the privileged and in through-the-roof costs.

In this land of the free market, the author is right: The college admission process needs scrutiny and accountability. And even a measure of regulation.

Blanche Tax Queens

The most remarkable aspect of Daniel Currell’s piece on admissions to selective colleges is the rare mention of the quality of education, such as the concession that we might “shift our cultural focus toward the hundreds of schools that offer an excellent education but are not luxury brands.”

The education quality offered at those hundreds of schools is often no less than that of the so-called “elite” schools. And that quality is less likely to be influenced by big-money donors.

Mr. Currell has made it clear that the brand, and not the education, is what has become important. Students are going to school not to learn, but to get a badge. And they carry that attitude throughout life.

External displays become more important than interior satisfaction with genuine accomplishment and contribution. The real problem is the very notion of elitism. Why do we want to train people to be snobs? To what end?

Joel Solow Newark, N.J.

I would like to point out one omission in an otherwise interesting article regarding higher education admissions: Much of the breakdown of the admissions process is due to the substantial increase in the number of applications that students submit.

For example, the Common Application reports that the number of college applications increased by 39 percent between 2019 and 2023 (the number of applicants also increased, by 28 percent).

When I applied to college in the late 1950s, students typically applied to three or so colleges (including a stretch school like the Ivies, a safe school like a state college and something in between). This was also the case when my children applied to college in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

But this past year, my grandchildren could apply to up to 20 colleges via the Common Application (although on average students apply to around six colleges). This greatly increases the number of applications that college admissions officers needed to consider.

It was increases in the number of applications that students submitted that contributed to the breakdown.

Marlaine Lockheed Princeton, N.J.

Daniel Currell’s essay catalogs the problems, but offers no solution. A year ago, before my son knew he would be among the more than 100,000 applicants rejected from his dream school (U.C.L.A.), he was looking at the required classes and asked, “Why can’t I just study what I want to study?” “You can,” I answered. “Go to school in the U.K.”

My son had bad grades in classes that didn’t interest him, and was generally unsuccessful applying to U.S. colleges. But he is brilliant, and managed top scores on eight Advanced Placement exams. He got several offers from U.K. colleges, and is now at University College London, which is regularly ranked among the top in the world.

U.K. universities are considerably more costly for international students than for U.K. ones. But for students who are good at studying, they are an excellent alternative to the U.S. beauty contest.

Wayne Camard Palo Alto, Calif.

Re “ The Best College Is One Where You Don’t Fit In ,” by Michael S. Roth (Opinion guest essay, nytimes.com, May 5):

For students who have had a comfortable and fulfilling K-12 social life, going to a more diverse and socially uncomfortable setting is indeed a good choice. But for the many adolescents who have struggled to find their tribe, choosing a college where they can finally develop a strong social network is critical.

Katharine H. McVeigh New York

College Station school leaders address budget challenges for 2024-2025

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) -College Station Independent School District (CSISD) leaders met Tuesday night to discuss the budget and challenges they face as they prepare for the 2024-2025 school year. Despite grappling with a lack of state funding, officials are considering reductions that will minimally impact students and staff.

CSISD Superintendent Dr. Tim Harkrider emphasized that while the situation is not ideal, the district is committed to being efficient without compromising student learning. Last August, the school board approved a $1.7 million budget deficit. Preliminary estimates now show am estimated $3.4 million deficit due to lower-than-expected enrollment and decreased state funding.

“It’s going to be a tough budget cycle. We’re frustrated with a lack of funding from the state, but we are where we are at this point in time. So we’ve gotta do a good job of getting efficient to make sure that we never compromise student learning, that we continue to take care of our staff because next August we’re going to have about 14,500 students show up, we’re going to be ready for them,” said Harkrider.

District leaders stated their budget goals for 2024-25 include retaining teachers and staff. In the absence of increased state funding, CSISD officials are working to balance the budget with approximately $4.4 million less than last year. The district plans to maximize the use of other funding sources such as grants and federal dollars while making strategic reductions in staff realignment and adjusting budgets based on campus needs.

“I think it’s just digging into our staffing models, digging into departments, how we’re spending our current funds, and making sure we’re doing a good job of taking care of that and being as efficient as possible,” Harkrider added.

Several parents voiced concerns about potential impacts on class sizes and reductions in specialized learning programs. One parent, whose daughter has dyslexia, expressed worries about the possible elimination of essential support services.

“My daughter has dyslexia and her grades were suffering earlier this year, prompting me to request an ARD meeting. Thankfully, the school implemented accommodations such as assistance with reading math problems in the classroom, and additional support from a math intervention,” said one parent.

Another parent added,” I have two children. They’re, succeeding with what they have and taking that away from them. We’re gonna go back to sleepless nights. We’re gonna go back to struggles,”

Harkrider assured the community that no staff members would be laid off and that the district remains committed to supporting both students and staff.

“We’re going to fight for them, whether we get the funding from the state that we feel like we need or not. We’ve been good stewards of our taxpayer’s dollars over the years. We’ve got a healthy fund balance, which is basically like our savings account, and we feel like we can still take care of our staff members moving forward,” Harkrider said.

As the district faces a tough budget cycle, Harkrider underscored the importance of efficiency and continued communication with the community about how legislative decisions affect local schools.

“I think just to keep our community informed of what’s taking place in Austin, how it affects us, how it affects them locally, and I think just keeping them informed,” said Harkrider. “Not trying to tell them what to do or what to advocate for, but I just think informational. I think a lot of times folks, our parents, even our staff members don’t realize that what’s taking place during a legislative session has a direct effect on our school district, based on our current fund balance.”

A copy of the district’s budget presentation can be found below.

College Station ISD Budget Update 5.21.24 by KBTX on Scribd

Copyright 2024 KBTX. All rights reserved.

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Here are reasons Tennessee softball can — and can't — win 1st Women's College World Series

Tennessee softball is in position for another run to the Women's College World Series after being selected the No. 3 national seed Sunday , the highest NCAA tournament seed in program history.

The Lady Vols (40-10) are coming off their second straight SEC regular-season championship , another program first. They are hosting the NCAA regional rounds in Knoxville for the 19th consecutive season. Tennessee will face Dayton (33-19) on Friday (2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+). Miami of Ohio (48-7) and Virginia (32-18) will play in the first game of the day (noon, ESPN+).

Tennessee dominated a stacked SEC, winning every series and taking down seven ranked opponents. Here's why it can and can't make a run back to and win the WCWS.

Why Tennessee softball can win WCWS

An early sec tournament exit added fuel to the fire.

The Lady Vols, the top seed in the SEC tournament, were upset in their first game by No. 8 seed LSU on Thursday, losing 2-1 in the pitchers' duel. Florida went on to win the title.

Not getting a single win at the SEC tournament will not sit well with the Lady Vols, even though the circumstances were less than ideal, having had to wait out a seven-hour weather delay. They got a few extra off days to stew on the loss, and it will only motivate them even more.

Tennessee has responded well to losses or poor performances all season. This is one of coach Karen Weekly's most talented teams, and the Lady Vols, who return a strong core from last season, could accomplish something they've never done before.

Tennessee has most dominant pitching duo in the nation

One of the reasons for Tennessee's dominance is its two starting pitchers. Sophomore Karlyn Pickens won SEC Pitcher of the Year and graduate Payton Gottshall was a first-team All-SEC selection.

They bring completely different looks in the circle. Pickens pitches with a rare level of velocity, regularly throwing faster than 70 mph, and the development of her change-up made her the SEC leader in whiff rate.

Gottshall is one of the best at attacking the strike zone. She throws at lower speeds than Pickens does, but she has an arsenal of pitches, and her strike-to-walk ratio of 5.77 ranks No. 13 in the nation. Her 1.25 ERA is ninth-best nationally; Pickens' 1.26 ERA is No. 10.

Why Tennessee softball can't win WCWS

Lady vols offense may fall flat again.

Tennessee struggled against the aces of Stanford and Texas at the beginning of the season. The Lady Vols hit their stride offensively and are a much different team now, but they still suffered two shutout losses in SEC play and could not get timely hits against LSU in the SEC tournament.

However, they are still ranked in the top 5 in the SEC in nearly every offensive category, including batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, runs scored and RBIs.

Tennessee will face the best pitchers in the country if it advances to the WCWS. In order to win its first national championship, it can't have an off-night offensively.

Tennessee will face a challenge in super regional

The winner of UT's regional faces the winner of national No. 14 seed Alabama's regional, which includes USC Upstate, Southeastern Louisiana and Clemson.

The Lady Vols won their series against Alabama, but the Tide also handed them one of only three shutout losses this season. Tennessee beat Clemson, but it was a pitchers' duel that ended in a 2-1 win for UT. Both teams would be a challenge in the super regionals.

And that's not even accounting for the rest of the field that the Lady Vols might face in the WCWS. They have the potential to win it all, but they will have to get even better the further they get in the postseason.

Cora Hall  covers University of Tennessee women’s athletics. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter  @corahalll . If you enjoy Cora’s coverage,  consider a digital subscription  that allows you to access all of it.