Are disabilities acceptable topics for hardship essays?

Applying to College
1

<p>I am a junior but got invited to early apply to some colleges starting in June. I really want to have my applications done before next school year. I am stuck on the hardship/circumstance/obstacle essays that some colleges require. The only thing I have are a series of neurological and autoimmune disorders. Trust me these can be difficult to manage but I wonder if this an ok topic because of discrimination and other things. Can I write about my disabilities in my essay? Would I sound like a complainer or hypochondriac if I did so?</p>

2

<p>You can write about them, but I’d work to be sure it doesn’t turn into a “poor me” essay and that you focus on how you move forward with your illness, how the illness has helped you evolve as a person, if you helped others in your situation etc.</p>

3

<p>go with it</p>

4

<p>I’ve never heard of any college requiring such essays. What schools are you applying to that demand "hardship’ essays?</p>

5

<p>I haven’t’ ever heard of hardship essays either. Is this an optional section to fill out if such circumstances exist? FYI there is an entire forum here for essay questions.</p>

6

<p>Sometimes the UC’s will send supplements to applicants with disabilities. Is this what you’re referring to? @monkeygirl1337</p>

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<p><a href=“Lifting the Veil on the Holistic Process at the University of California, Berkeley - The New York Times”>Lifting the Veil on the Holistic Process at the University of California, Berkeley - The New York Times;

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<p>It is perfectly accept able to write about needing to plan to get assignments done early because you might have a headache, that you follow a special diet to help with symptoms, etc. The essay can be used to show strength in knowing your issues and dealing with them.</p>

9

<p>^^Agree. I think OP is referring to the fact that lots of colleges have an essay choice that is “talk about the greatest obstacle you’ve had to overcome.” Write your essay with more focus on the kind of student it has made you (hopefully the kind they want) who has figured out how to work with it and how it has made you better.</p>

<p>Reading Gibby post, I think some schools bring it on themselves by asking these questions. I hated them on my children’s applications. For kids with no real drama in their lives, what are they suppose to write about - how hard it is to get up at 6am?? And then some schools feel as one Gibby quoted - one we visited kind of bluntly said they didn’t want a “dead grandmother” essay.</p>