<p>Colleges don't have an incentive to admit students with a disability and they don't seem to care about the percentage of students who do have some sort of disability (unlike race, gender, etc), so would they have any reason to admit a student because they add diversity? Even though it's unaccounted for?
Thanks!</p>
<p>Are you trying to say that someone who has an unaccounted and undocumented disability is more likely to get accepted to college?</p>
<p>Of course not. Disabilities are often very sentimental and the colleges will be looking for proof later on. </p>
<p>If it is accounted for and documented, it could possibly help you, but it depends on your situation. </p>
<p>Sorry, that was very unclear. I have had a hearing loss since I was 3 and it is fully documented, but I’m not sure that colleges care about diversity in that area. What do you think about this?</p>
<p>Every single college clearly states their prime criteria is transcript. Most colleges do NOT read into details like you mention. If you happen to be a top scholar and are considering applying to those handful of colleges that read files “holistically”, your mention of your hearing loss, if part of your essay – in a meaningful and not sympathy-searching way-- may be a slight factor. That’s about it.</p>
<p>You could write about deaf culture and straddling two worlds (if you attend a traditional public school). Use your deafness to stand out but not in a “woe is me” sort of way. </p>
<p>@SlackerMomMD, that’s more along the lines of what I was thinking of. I’m not looking or attention or sympathy, I’m just curious if it will have an impact on my admissions. In my common app essay, I had about a paragraph explaining how being Hard of Hearing has impacted my life (for the better). Do you think it could hurt my admissions decision?</p>
<p>@Snoww26, I think that’s actually what colleges want to know. I can’t see how an essay explaining how being deaf has shaped you as a person and what you seek to do in life would hurt. I would think, if you strike the right tone, it <em>helps</em> you in the college application process.</p>
<p>It’s tough to write about this sort of thing within the limits of a 500- to 700-word essay and not sound trite, or like a cliche.</p>
<p>Which is too bad, since the experience of significant health issues as a young person can have a significant impact on who that person is and becomes, and reading about someone’s experience can provide a valuable window into the personality and character of the individual. Which is part of what the essays are supposed to be all about.</p>
<p>But I suppose that the admissions process at most schools, especially the most highly-selective, is a little too shallow to readily accommodate that sort of information.</p>
<p>@Snoww26, I’m not sure this is a straight-up diversity kind of thing, at least not as it’s generally meant within this context. At least, I hope it isn’t. </p>
<p>Funny, I was just thinking about this at breakfast. I heard a prominent college admissions professional say colleges are very interested in admitting SWDs these days. My reaction? Hogwash! I don’t see it. I was even thinking that next time I meet this pro, I’ll inquire about evidence for the statement. The only special interest from adcoms for SWDs I could expect would be for a top-performing applicant with an easily accommodated disability. </p>
<p>There is no place on the common application to declare a specific disability. As far as i could tell from my own college app experience having a disability will only affect your app if you are able to work it into your essay. Of course then you have to worry about making sure your essay isn’t too off hand or cliche, but with some work you should be able pull it off. </p>
<p>Once you get into and decide on a college make sure you contact their office for students with disabilities so that you can ensure that all your accommodations are taken care of before your first semester. </p>
<p>@dyiu13 Yeah, I’m not going to ask for any accommodations because I don’t think I’ll need them (I don’t in high school, anyways) and I’ve proved that I can succeed despite being Hard of Hearing. I honestly don’t see any reason why a school would want to admit a SWB if they need accommodations over a student w/o disabilities. Will you let me know if you talk to them again?</p>
<p>@snoww26 Will see the source next month. This question will definitely be on my mind and I’ll ask. Will let you know what I hear. </p>
<p>
Which makes me wonder… In effect by mentioning this the OP will be notifying colleges that she/he may require an ASL interpreter or someone to take notes or some other accomodation(s). It would be blatantly illegal to discriminate because of this, I think, but proving it might be another matter. These services are not free, so I wonder if an adcom reviewing the file might subconciously decide the OP just isn’t as good a student as Sally who has similar grades and scores but won’t need these services.</p>