<p>I'm interviewing at a few schools; mostly Ivies and East Coast LACs. </p>
<p>I had a really glaring decline in grades during my sophomore year. It damaged my GPA pretty significantly, and the trend is obvious to anyone who looks at my transcript. I know this isn't an excuse in the least, but I had a fairly serious eating disorder and some related issues. Again, it's totally my fault that I did so poorly in school, but those things didn't really help. It's nothing I'd want to highlight, though, so...</p>
<p>My question is, how do I handle explaining that year to an interviewer? I want to avoid the clich</p>
<p>Well I don't think the interviewer will have your transcript, so I think that it won't come up in the interview. But if it does come up, I think responding by saying that you had quite a considerable personal issue, and I would hope that the interviewer wouldn't feel the need to pry on.</p>
<p>I don't think you should bring up negative topics during interviews. Besides, I don't see how this could ever be brought up as a topic because most interviewers don't ask about grades (which would lead to you having to explain the conditions, etc.)</p>
<p>But about your circumstances, sorry to hear about that, but grades aren't as important if you can make it up with SATs, ECs, and essays.</p>
<p>Don't tell them about the eating disorder. You can address it - if asked - by saying that you expereinced a lot of "stress" during that year and your grades refected it, but that you have learned how to manage stress better and ever since, your grades have naturally improved.</p>
<p>You'd better talk about your eating problems in your essay. But don't mention that because of that your grades have failed, just say somewhere that it happened during your sophomore year. I am sure the adcoms will make the connection with your grades, but don't try to give an explanation yourself, because it would seem just a lame excuse.</p>
<p>Just say you had personal issues. They'll read into it. As long as your grades have returned to their previous excellence, don't worry about it.</p>
<p>i disagree whole-heartedly with armando.
an eating disorder isn't "your fault." i think the OP meant that it was their fault they did badly in school, not that it was their fault they had an eating disorder. an eating disorder isn't really something someone can control-- there's a reason 10% of anorexic people die.</p>
<p>if it were well written, it could make a great essay. but i don't think the OP wants to do that anyways.</p>
<p>I agree with username17... you should definitely make a point of disclosing to the colleges you're applying to your eating disorder. This doesn't have to be in essay form or through the course of your interview if you don't want it to be; however, you do need to make sure that the schools know so that you have a viable excuse for why you "slipped" during your sophomore year. I had a similar issue with my grades during the first semester of my junior year (surgery on a sports injury) so my college counsellor included in his comments a note that this happened. It's no big deal, but it's important because it makes sure that the colleges know that the reason for your slip is legitimate.</p>