<p>My friend has a question regarding her college essays ...</p>
<p>Back in 10th grade, she was hospitalized multiple points throughout the year. The ordeal really, really stressed her out and weakened her immune system to such a point where she was absent close to 30-40% of the year. She withdrew from her family and friends, and as a result was placed on anti-depressants. She has overcome her medical ailments, and was wondering If this is something that should be placed in a college essay.</p>
<p>For a regular college admissions essay, you probably don’t want to mention it at all. However, most applications do have an extra space for you to fill in those extenuating circumstances (i.e. on the USC app, there is a section that says “if there is any information you believe is relevant to our consideration of you as an applicant that is not already contained in your application, feel free to explain on an additional sheet.”)</p>