Depression, scared it's affecting my admission chances...

Applying to College
1

<p>Sorry if this is in the wrong forum/section. I wasn't sure if this belonged here or in High School Life. Here's the short version if you're too lazy to read everything:</p>

<h2>Did great in school until this year (senior year). Something happened over the summer and I now have depression. I've been impacted greatly by it, and my grades have been dropping A LOT. I used to have mostly As and maybe 1 or 2 Bs, and now I don't have any As and lots of Bs and Cs, I might even get a D... Is there anything I can do or am I completely helpless? </h2>

<p>(I'm a senior.)
I was quite happy/satisfied with my grades, essays, SAT scores in the beginning of the year. I thought I had pretty good essays, my SAT scores were okay. My grades weren't the best (1 or 2 Bs in my final report card junior and senior year), but I'm doing full IB diploma so definitely taking difficult and challenging classes and my grades have either stayed the same or improved from previous years, although I'm taking much harder classes. </p>

<p>But, something happened summer coming into senior year (so this last summer), and I've been heavily impacted by it. Since the school year started, I've been constantly tired, I have no motivation to do anything, I have been easily irritated, I've been feeling incredibly lonely and helpless yet at the same time, I've been crying every night pretty much, I've lost interest in things I used to love, like hanging out with friends and going out. I had to talk to the school academics counselor because my grades were dropping so low. </p>

<p>I started seeing the school personal counselor a few months ago and she suspects that I have depression (not sure if that's considered an official diagnosis, I'm guessing not since she's not a therapist?). I thought I was just sad a lot of times, but all this has been going on for 8, almost 9 months. She's suggested me seeing a real therapist so that I might be able to be prescribed with antidepressants. I haven't gone yet, because I don't want to tell my mom about this and I'm just... scared, I guess, to see someone outside. </p>

<p>Obviously, this has impacted my school life as well, and so like I said, my grades are HORRIBLE. The worst I ever had in my entire life. I've been accepted into 2 school so far - thank God - but I'm scared that because of this, I won't have a chance at all anymore at schools I used to have somewhat of a chance at, like NYU or Vanderbilt. Since I've only done regular decision, my colleges still might contact my school and ask for updated grades... I'm scared that they'll see my grades, think it's senioritis, and deny me completely. I know for a fact I can do so much better than this if I were in a normal mental state! </p>

<p>So is there a way I could let colleges know about my situation (probably not but I'm just... hoping... so much...)? I'm probably helpless now, but what do you guys think? Is there anything I can do? Or is it too bad, I'm done for, and I just need to accept my fate now?</p>

2

<p>You can notify your colleges by sending them all a personal letter regarding your grades. Letting them know what happened. Sorry to be a downer, but if you receive a D in any of your classes, the chances of colleges accepting you is slim.
BUT, please listen to this:</p>

<p>The only advice that I can give you (as I am not a therapist nor have I suffered from depression severely) is to BREATHE. Senior year can be extremely stressful! I’m a senior too! What you have to do is to stop thinking negatively (yeah, easier said than done). But hear me out. I know this is an odd way to get out of a slump of depression, but have you ever watched The Secret? It’s a self-motivational documentary—like a life-coaching movie. These people tell their stories and talk about how they overcame their fears/depression. Check it out when you have the time. And I’m telling you, try not to think that it is impossible to not bring up your grade (potential D) before finals. It’s possible. Trust me, I was in the same position first semester grade-wise. In my Calculus AB class, I had a 70.01% (C- by the skin of my teeth! .02% lower, and I would’ve had a D) going into my final. I was flipping out during the last week of school before my final. I studied like crazy, I was extremely afraid of getting a D as that would jeopardize everything I’ve worked for. So what did I do (other than studied like a crazy person)? I breathed. I told myself that this grade does not determine my worth as a person. $#!+ happens as they say, but it’s not like my life is in danger if I fail my Calculus final. And guess what happened? It appeared that my studying paid off and so did my self motivation. I aced my final! I got 95% and bumped up my grade to a 73% :). Don’t beat yourself up too much. The fact you were able to accomplish SOOO much up until now means that your skills are still with you. They haven’t disappeared. Good luck! Check out the Secret too!</p>

3

<p>OK so I’m still a sophomore, so I probably don’t know much about colleges. I have a sister who’s at Stanford right now, and second semester, she was about to get 3 D’s. She nearly got rescinded but she then sent a letter to Stanford explaining what happened (in this case it was a bad situation at home).</p>

<p>I hope that helps a little bit.</p>

<p>I’m actually going through depression as well, and anti-depressants do help. At least you don’t feel like dying everyday when you wake up. I was very hesitant about telling my parents, so eventually (after living without medication for four years and attempting suicide several times without telling anyone) I told people I was gonna go get run over by a train and so the police found me and brought me to a hospital. There I was finally prescribed anti-depressants.</p>

<p>Sorry for the gory details. You probably didn’t have to read that… </p>

<p>Seriously, though, I think if you write a letter to whatever college/university, they won’t rescind you. Especially if it’s something like this. </p>

<p>I don’t know what I’m gonna do, since I’m about to get 4 F’s. And I’m planning to go to a UC. Anyways…</p>

4

<p>@kaliforniya, as someone who has experienced depression and has had several loved ones with it, I am going to give you my most heartfelt advice. You need to seek professional help from a therapist or psychiatrist. If at all possible, open up to your mom(hey, she’s gonna see your GPA soon anyway…). If not, can you talk another trusted adult, or give your school counselor permission to speak with your parents? I know it’s hard imagining opening up to a stranger, but it’s absolutely worth doing. If what is going on is depression, it’s easy to get into the mindset that nothing will ever get better so why bother trying. Medication and/or cognitive-behavioral therapy are research proved ways to treat depression. </p>

<p>I will also venture to say that treating depressoin is more important than worrying about colleges right now…because it will be hard to succeed academically until you’ve taken care of yourself. </p>

<p>Good luck, and please take care of yourself!</p>

5

<p>Thank you everyone, so much. I am trying to find help, but there are some complications, including just my tendency to not trust people and it’s just extremely hard for me to completely open up to people. I haven’t been seeing the school counselor lately because of lack of time as well as… I usually feel like a big idiot, like she’s going to judge me or think that I shouldn’t be taken seriously or something. I know the cause of my depression, and interestingly enough, it’s nothing bad. The thing that happened over the summer was something good; I just don’t share this with anyone because I’m scared they won’t take me seriously or think I’m reacting in such a ridiculous manner.</p>

<p>So, would you all say that I should send a letter to my schools? By letter, do you mean actual mail or e-mail? Would I have enough time (because I’m on the opposite side of the world and the decisions are coming in next week or even this week…)? Should I call instead? …They wouldn’t think I’m being some desperate teenager making up excuses or something, right? :/</p>

6

<p>Your mom is your mom and wants the best for you, such as getting into a good college. If seeing a doctor will help, do it. If you have a regular doctor now that you trust, you can start there. That doctor can prescribe something for you or refer you to a therapist s/he trusts.
Just know that getting help will be good.
Also, you can explain grades dropping to colleges. And once you conquer your problems, you have a good admissions essay topic about how you can conquer problems.</p>

7

<p>Regardless of your situation, you can bring your grades up. There is still time. There are people who get beaten by depression, but there are also people who beat depression. Which category do you fall into?</p>

<p>Are you the type to sit down and look for excuses and ways out when life gets tough? It’s still March. There’s definitely time to turn things around. Colleges will understand if you send them letters, but letters are not excuses for giving up. They’re explanations for situations out of your control, in which you still did your very, very best. Colleges receive two updates on senior grades - midyears and final reports. You have until June. Don’t be looking for ways out - that’s just giving into your depression outright and admitting it’s won and there’s nothing left you can do. Do your absolute best to perform like you know you can. And only after you’ve done your best, should you be thinking about letters to explain yourself.</p>

8

<p>@ Kalifornya: by across the world, do you mean you’re an international student?
Also I feel you. I’ve forever felt like I couldn’t trust anyone with my problems because they bullied me into thinking that. Wow, what a wimp I am…
Does your school have Adolescent Counseling Services? I think it’s a good place to start, maybe they could refer you to a therapist.
Well unless you want to go the chaos route that I did to get treatment…</p>

<p>@Languidness: that’s harsh to say to someone who most probably has depression. Depression, like a terminal disease, is something that can’t just disappear if you work hard on something. You do need time to recover… the letter WOULDN’T be an excuse. Seriously, depression is NOT something to be messed with. If it was, I’d be long dead by now. Like people want me to be. And I’m just being realistic. However, I do believe that I should occupy all my time by doing activities, slowly adding some. That way there is a reason to live. Even though I don’t want to. The kids in Africa can have my life for all I care.</p>

9

<p>I know exactly how you feel kalifornya, because basically the same thing happened to me. Over the summer I fell into a depression and in August or September I began to see a counselor for it and began taking medication, but as that all was taking effect there were still problems with my grades and I got 3 B’s last semester (when I had never gotten anything other than A’s). Granted this isn’t the same as getting C’s and D’s but honestly it was a struggle to even get the B’s. I didn’t send any letters regarding my depression to the schools I applied to, and managed to get into my dream school early decision II. I agree with Languidness in that you just need to think about the fact that you still have time to get your grades up, and keep doing your best. And keep in mind there may be plenty of other redeeming qualities in your application I’m sure that would help make up for a few less than stellar grades.</p>

10

<p>I would not tell schools about your depression. Schools want to avoid students with mental health issues. Wait and see what happens next week. If schools that accept you have questions about your grades, you might say you had family problems.</p>

11

<p>Waverly – under Americans With Disabilities Act I don’t think they can discriminate against you simply for having depression. If they think you’ll be a danger to yourself or others or unable to function, that’s different, but I wouldn’t say that schools are out to avoid students with mental health issues. There are actually several schools I’ve looked at with mental healthy awareness student organizations on campus and some schools do take into high consideration emotional or medical reasons for dips in grades (iirc UC Davis said something along these lines.) </p>

<p>Students with mental illnesses aren’t lepers and I think suggesting that schools actively avoid them is entirely the wrong impression to make on a population of people who need to be able to reach out to resources on their campus and in their schools. </p>

<p>Sent you a message, OP.</p>

12

<p>Missgen, I was a college admissions officer and a college counselor, trust me on this one.</p>

<p>Colleges are not only fearful of incidents with mentally ill students as have happened on several campuses, but mental health services are over taxed on most campuses today.</p>