With colleges still scrambling to decide on their admissions policies after the Supreme Court's decision around affirmative action, one of the elements of the application that has received greater spotlight is the college essay. With many colleges likely to adopt some sort of measurement of adversity as a means of continuing to ensure diversity in their accepted cohorts, and with the pandemic still a foundational experience for many students who will be applying this cycle, the "trauma essay" is on the rise as a go-to topic. This week, Tyler explains why it shouldn't be. He then provides a couple alternative suggestions that will help you brainstorm the right narrative to stand out. Tina Yong's Ted Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyD0m7JXgjA