<p>With a projected UW 3.73 GPA & (W 4.75ish), I realize that my UW GPA is quite low compared to the averages of accepted applicants of highly competitive schools which I would like to attend (Dartmouth, Brown, Tufts, Yale)..</p>
<p>I suffered from depression my freshman year which is when my GPA was so low (3.4) w. only 2 H's
Soph. yr, I was a lot better w. 3.71 GPA & all H's
Jr yr, 4.0 w. 4 AP's &
Sr. yr 4.0 w/ 5 AP's
My SAT scores are high, essays & rec's wonderful, great EC's, work experience, volunteerism & summer activities</p>
<p>How do I explain my depression? Is it a pathetic excuse? I don't want it to be apart of my essay..</p>
<p>I would think it’s okay to speak about the experience you had as a freshman…not to come off as an excuse but to write about how you overcame that obstacle. I have always heard that one things colleges also look at is improvement over the course of high school and from your stats, you definitely improved and did very well! Also, some of the colleges you mentioned ask for recommendation letters. Perhaps your counselor or teacher can explain your freshman year and will also write about all your accomplishments and improvement in recent years.</p>
<p>I’m not sure what to say to my guidance counselor about it, since she doesn’t know I was depressed (I only see her 3-4x’s per year about choosing classes, etc.) “Hey, could you mention that I had depression my freshman year? Thanks” eeek, awkward.</p>
<p>I think you have a very nice upward trend. what has been done has been done, and there isn’t much you can do about it. focus on keeping your grades up and writing outstanding, i repeat, OUTSTANDING essays.
yale’s a bit of a reach, but the other schools are certainly still very possible.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t mention your depression in any shape, way, or form in your application process (including essays, interviews, and “other info” section). Let your upward trend speak for itself.</p>
<p>I have a few questions.
Was your depression diagnosed?
Did you seek treatment?
If your condition was not evaluated/diagnosed then it can’t be considered a medical condition.
Depression should be listed on your medical record (for insurance purposes), too. I don’t think adcoms look this over. However, if this is the case, and you have overcome legitimate, diagnosed depression, I think it’d be fine to waive the stigma and mention it in your essays as long as it’s done tactfully.
I had both diagnosed anxiety/mild depression and a separate medical condition. I mentioned the latter in my essays as something I had to overcome.
Depression is used so colloquially now I had to ask.</p>
<p>I would definitely write your essay about it. But do it in a way that is not complaining or making excuses. I would portray it in a more positive light. Like how your overcame it, what you learned from the experience, how it has made you a stronger person, etc.</p>
<p>Vertigo, good point. It was not diagnosed. I didn’t want to see a therapist or any other doctor. But my mom thought that I was depressed, and I knew that I was. I did start seeing a therapist this year… I used to see one when I was little, after my parents divorced.</p>
<p>I went through a (somewhat) similar experience sophomore and junior year. Unfortunately, my suffering grades (I’m talking some C’s and a D here) were a bit more conspicuous than yours. After multiple depressive episodes and a suicide attempt, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, sent to therapy, and put on medication. I’m much, much better now.
I was at a loss for how to explain my situation to admissions. After talking to my guidance counselor, I chose to essentially ignore it other than stating that I had health problems during that time that caused me to miss a great deal of school. I could’ve written a great essay, but I didn’t want the school’s first impression of me to be of my mental health problems. </p>
<p>I ended up being accepted at my top choice school- George Washington University. I was also accepted at Northeastern, American, Syracuse, and UNH. Clearly my choices aren’t on the same level as yours, but your grades are also excellent and you have a strong upward trend that schools love to see. </p>
<p>ctgirl, I wouldn’t mention your depression at all since it wasn’t diagnosed. While not a “pathetic” excuse, it does look like an excuse because there is no way of knowing whether or not you actually had clinical depression.</p>
<p>“I wouldn’t mention your depression in any shape, way, or form in your application process (including essays, interviews, and “other info” section). Let your upward trend speak for itself.”</p>
<p>nysmile gave you the best advice… </p>
<p>University’s are still trying to figure out how deal with students with mental illness. No parent, student, or administrator wants an unpredictable (possibly a danger to themselves or others) person on campus… And as a whole - for the most part - mental illness (possibly including depression) still gets lumped together as unpredictable and therefor undesirable… It’s a lot better to have a lower GPA in your freshmen year and a upward trend than to blame an undiagnosed “mental illness”… </p>
<p>*** Just to be clear, I’m talking about your issue, as you described… Not a student with a documented problem and monitored treatment plan. Each school would look at that on an individual basis, but thats not what you described here…</p>
<p>Crap, *Congratulations…
Thank you, ncmentor. I just hope colleges don’t think that I was just being lazy and slacking off. I went from being extremely social and popular in middle school to having 0 friends my freshman year. I had ongoing problems with my parents and stepmother. I switch houses regularly, and it’s very stressful. Also, in the beginning of this year, my grandmother passed away.</p>
<p>They will focus more on your upward trend. Again, I suggest letting your upward trend speak for itself and do not write an essay about being depressed. Own your gpa and take responsibility for it.</p>
<p>Freshman year of high school is a transitional year for all students. Some handle it better than others, but the majority of students are trying to figure it all out (regarding teenage drama, high school work loads, social changes, physical changes, etc.). </p>
<p>Keep the upward trend going. Study and practice the SAT and ACT tests. Focus on a passion.</p>