I’ll be applying to college next year; I have a 3.7 gpa, take several AP courses and am studying 2 foreign languages (4 years of honors Italian and 2 years of Spanish). For the college essay, would it benefit me to write about my epilepsy and how it’s affected my academics? I was epileptic for ten years starting when I was four and had been in special education classes up until high school. Would this be playing the “victim” card or attesting to my perseverance.
welcome to CC. If possible, please add more info to your post titles. “Help” is easily ignored. Say" Help please on essay idea"
Thanks for the tip
Writing about how having epilepsy effected your academics could come across as making excuses if you’re not careful but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be a topic.
For example, just from what you wrote here, I’d love to know how you made the transition from special education classes to 4 years of honors Italian. How did you recognize that you could do this level of work? What doubts did you face (both internal and external)?
There are potentially powerful essays in what you’ve faced.
What common application prompt would this topic bestly be applied to? In your opinion… And should I focus on that part of my life leading up to where I am now academically of the epilepsy itself and how it affected me
The first Common Application prompt seems relevant to your situation. A piece of advice that I see on CC and hear from others a lot is to show, not tell. You could write about how having epilepsy and being in special education has shaped you into the person you are today. Consider how your disorder has affected your personality and interests. Are you more compassionate? Patient? Interested in becoming a special education teacher or majoring in neuroscience?
You could use that topic. Or you could put a note in additional info or ask your GC to mention it. Don’t feel that you have to put in in your essay to communicate it to admissions.
I didn’t even know that was an option, thank you. That would most likely come off as humbling too.
I feel you, though not to the same degree of severity. My mom really wants me to write about my cleft lip and palate and how that has affected me, but I don’t want to downplay myself by writing about not being the most outgoing person because if it.
Really?!? This is a super lame question that’s been brought up a gazillion times. Unless you are more specific here, don’t expect any real help. A simple 10-second search would have really saved help this community some time.A
@buckeye93 - welcome to CC. Don’t discourage OP, if you don’t have any advice. Your first CC post is not very welcoming, I think you can do better!!