Diseases/disorders and admissions?

Applying to College
1

<p>I've read plenty of threads asking whether or not to mention mental instability or periods of depression in the essays to show how one has grown from them. The general view seems to be that for mental disorders, you should not tell the adcoms as they are reluctant to take liability should anything come up if they admit you.</p>

<p>That being said, what about physical disorders? For example, if I'm considered handicapped and stuck in a wheelchair, should I go ahead and write about my experiences and overcoming such challenges? (I'm not actually handicapped) What about things like diabetes or asthma? Can showing how you've risen above your disabilities help in the college admissions? Or are any disabilities looked down upon? This is a general question.</p>

<p>Specifically, I have epilepsy. It's kind of in between mental disorders and physical disorders. I'm not sure whether or not I should mention it. I don't want it to hurt my chances. </p>

<p>Thoughts appreciated</p>

2

<p>Wow i think you should go for it! It sounds like it would make a great essay. I think what people mean is that you shouldn’t talk about something like trying to kill yourself 2 years ago…anything like that. As long as you don’t sound sorry for yourself and have a good writing voice (engaging) then i think you’ll be great!</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the reply. Anymore thoughts from anyone else?</p>

4

<p>You can forget admission if you mention any type of mental disorder. Suicide attempts in colleges are at an all time high and they don’t want the risk. Colleges will cherry-pick just like insurance companies.</p>

5

<p>Epilepsy will not be seen as a mental disorder. Whether to write about it or not is another question. The idea behind your essay should be to illuminate all of the positives you bring to the school. It can’t be a ‘poor, pitiful me essay’ or a ‘I am stronger because I’m different’ essay and be a good one. You would have to put an interesting twist on it.</p>

6

<p>I reiterate what others have said:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>If it’s a mental health issue, it is prudent to stay clear of it.</p></li>
<li><p>If it’s a physical health issue, it’s fine like any topic but you must also avoid cliches. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>I wrote a supplemental essay to Harvard and Yale about my juvenile diabetes. I avoided garbage like “I am prepared to tackle adversity in my life” and “My illness has taught me to remain optimistic and value my otherwise good health” or whatever. No one wants to read that. Instead I wrote an essay that was mostly narrative in form, describing an incident in which the value of keeping perspective was made obvious. </p>

<p>When in doubt, write it like a narrative. Consider this case presented on the UVA website:</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>The death of a family member is, like a medical illness, a so-called “cliched topic” but if written well, it isn’t a cliche.</p>

7

<p>I don’t think I’ll use it as a main essay – perhaps in the supplementary essays/additional info sections and in the interviews. Really, I just want to tell colleges how having this disorder has motivated me to study medicine so that I can help others in similar predicaments. Would this be too cliche? I imagine there are many doctor-hopefuls studying fields related to illnesses they or a close friend/family member have.</p>

8

<p>Hmm, okay some might disagree with me on this but here’s my opinion:</p>

<p>Even mentioning the fact that you have any kind of disability in your essay I think would be cliche - even if the essay doesn’t revolve around it at all and you merely mentioned it in passing. You know what will make a much bigger (positive) impression? Writing your entire essay wonderfully as usual, but don’t even hint that you have a disability. Don’t downright lie obviously, but for example if you were in a wheelchair and you were talking about your trip to the supermarket you’d say, “I made my way over to the supermarket” instead of, “I got into my wheelchair and rolled on over to the supermarket”. So write your entire essay as though you were a normal person.</p>

<p>Then mention in the relevant section (I don’t remember the Common App perfectly but if there’s a medical portion to it put it there. Otherwise, put it in the additional info section) that you have <insert your=“” physical=“” disability=“” here=“”> and that you don’t plan to let this get in the way of your college experience though you may need to use the University health services from time to time.</insert></p>

<p>Pretty sure that would be an excellent way to frame it.</p>

<p>BONUS NOTE:</p>

<p>The debate on mental disorders might not be as cut and dry as some people make it out to be. Mentioning things like suicide attempts are gigantic red flags, and if your mental disorder is depression you should avoid talking about it altogether. Same goes for anything that people will consider wholly dangerous, like aggression disorders.</p>

<p>BUT, even though things like Bipolar disorder in reality can have equally (if not even greater) devastating effects on day-to-day life, it might be worth gambling with some of your reach schools. It’s a tricky balancing act and I would highly recommend against doing it with all of your colleges or even any of your matches/safteties, but if your application involves being a nationally ranked debater, having a 4.0, 2300+ on the SATs, and playing piano at Carnegie Hall, or otherwise stellar, then the fact that you did all of that on top of having Bipolar Disorder or Schizophrenia or something (assuming you have no damning events on your record like assaults or suicide attempts) could add the fantastic twist that makes, say, Princeton, say, “We need to admit this student.”</p>

<p>Remember, we’ve had crazy geniuses before, and they’re not derided, they’re praised.</p>

<p>For the most part though, everyone else is right. Mentioning mental disorders are a good way to sabotage your application.</p>