<p>I know there are plenty of threads about adhd, but what I wanted to know is whether or not I should tell about depression and bipolar disorder. </p>
<p>Initially, I was diagnosed with adhd, but after starting medications and witnessing a steady decline in my grades and focus, I realized this wasn't the problem. The frequent and rapid moodswings as well as chronic thoughts of suicide sort of clued me in. </p>
<p>What I'd like to know is should I tell colleges I apply to this? It could explain some dips in my gpa (I had mostly A's and nothing below a C until my junior year, where one of my classes dropped to a D, and I had mostly C's and B's).</p>
<p>Do not tell. Believe me, I’m telling you from personal experience. I suffered from crippling depression in high school, which took a real toll on my freshman and sophomore grades. I didn’t start excelling in school until junior year. I explained this in my application, and I got rejected from numerous schools I should have had no problem getting into (had great grades, recs, test scores, you name it). I learned from a highly regarded educational consultant after the fact that mentioning depression is like begging the admissions people to throw your application in the trash. She put it best: colleges are looking for people who can do well there. Depression is something that can come back, so they don’t have a guarantee you won’t become depressed again and flunk out, kill yourself and then your parents sue the school, or, worse yet, become a Cho Seung-Hui and shoot up the place.</p>
<p>It’s completely unfair, I admit, since it’s not our fault depression happens. But so it is. What I would recommend you do is put a positive spin on it–claim it was immaturity you grew out of or personal family issues that have since been resolved.</p>
<p>Good luck :)</p>