<p>Would it be alright to write a college essay about anemia and how I overcame it. Basically I started having anemia sophomore year of high school and it greatly impaired my health by giving me migraines every day, preventing me from sleeping, giving me poor concentration, and giving me weakness. I had to transfer schools because at the one I was in I was falling behind due to my illness. However, after the transfer I met with a therapist for about 6 months and saw my doctor and was diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia. Now of course I am back to my former self (good health) but I want to know if it's okay to write about such a topic as overcoming anemia? I'll make the essay positive and talk about what I've learned about myself and others in having anemia . Any advice is appreciated!! (I'm a senior by the way). I just want colleges to have a full perspective on my application and to be understanding of my high school transfer and why my grades went from straight A's to A's and B's. The rest of my application is great in terms of EC's, grades, and what not. I just need to know if this is an appropriate topic for my personal statement. It was definitely the biggest obstacle of my life and overcoming it was something I never thought was possible. So should I write it and if I do how so?</p>
<p>Don’t whine. Don’t make excuses.</p>
<p>It must have a totally positive spin.</p>
<p>You want sympathy, not pity.</p>
<p>Sure you can write about it. I agree that the angle should be more about overcoming than about the sorrow of it. I think it could be an inspiring and real story.</p>
<p>There is also a place for other information pertinent to your admission at the end of the common app - you might want to indicate briefly that you were sick which impacted your grades for a semester (or year) and resulted in a school transfer, but you are now fully healthy - then save the essays to focus on things that might give more insight into who you are and what you love. It makes it clear that you have overcome a significant challenge but that the illness is not the most important thing about who you are.</p>