<p>I have a pain disorder. Because of this I've been in constant pain with few, infrequent, and brief interruptions and a constellation of other symptoms. </p>
<p>A couple years ago I'd practically dropped out of school. Because of this I ended up at a very academically intense online school, but because of the missed time I'm graduating a year late. I'm confident I can return to normal school because I'm now more equipped to handle my health problems even though they haven't dissipated. </p>
<p>I want to convey all this in a way that isn't too depressing and doesn't make the colleges think that I won't be able to handle the stress associated with a top tier school but I'm not exactly sure how to approach it. Should I start with an anecdote? A relatively happy one or a sad one?</p>
<p>I don't know how to not make this essay all about facts and chronology.....</p>
<p>Any advice would be greatly appreciated :)</p>
<p>Edit: I also think it's important to say this is not my main common app essay but an additional essay because I don't want to seem like my health is all of who I am.</p>
<p>You are right, you would not want to make this your main common app essay. But here is the thing… admission offices don’t want to read extensive additional essays, either. This is something you should mention briefly in the additional information section, and also if you have a school guidance counselor you could discuss with them whether they could include a comment in it in their recommendation. But I don’t think an “essay” with anecdotes is the right thing to do. A short, factual statement that you have had a pain-related medical condition that disrupted your high school career, but is now being effectively managed is the sort of thing you want to say. They don’t want a lot of medical details… but you probably want to tell them enough so they know it is a physical health problem and currently well managed (assuming that is true).</p>
<p>But that said, be sure you have some good match and safety schools on your list. Top tier colleges may shy away from a student who hasn’t been in a normal school environment for a few years due to medical issues. So make sure you have a good range of schools on your list so you have good options next spring.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice! I’d agree that I would want to make this brief, but a couple of schools on my list require an additional 500 word essay on any topic so I would plan to put a fairly extensive essay in that slot. I do think that the anecdotal type essay may be appropriate here. </p>
<p>Also, my online school is very rigorous. While I agree I should cover my bases, I also have to point out that my school sends at least a few kids to MIT every year, 3 to columbia this year etc out of a class of only 30. (It’s affiliated with Stanford Univ which I think helps the stigma with online education). Also, I have a combined GPA from online and normal school of 3.9, and SAT scores at 2370… I think I have a shot at top schools, though I realize it’s a long shot.</p>
<p>I think it is fine to make the additional essay about this. It sounds to me that you have thought of the pitfalls of this sort of essay in a smart way, so I think you can pull it off. Clearly your coping strategies are working so you should address how you are able to do that. Are you going about in the world now, as you would in college? You might want to show that so they can picture you at college. Or you might talk about picturing yourself at college.</p>
<p>I’m sorry to hear you have to deal with this terrible condition and I hope you get some relief.</p>
<p>I just posted a great ‘essay that worked’ on a topic that people should generally avoid. Maybe it will give you some inspiration. He also had top grades/scores.
[Morning</a> Edition - College Essays](<a href=“http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/2001/mar/010326.clayton_kennedy.html]Morning”>Morning Edition - College Essays)</p>