<p>Some examples:</p>
<p>Depression
Anorexia
Autism (provided you do well academically and dont' require special education services)</p>
<p>Would it be against the disabilities act to reject applicants with these mental illnesses?</p>
<p>It’s not the admissions office decision I would be worried about.</p>
<p>I would question the judgement of PARENTS who would knowingly enroll a mentally ill child requiring close medical supervision just to stay alive, into an independent environment like a conventional boarding school</p>
<p>Well, these disorders can vary enormously in severity and need for medical supervision. OP, I am hoping you are talking about a history of depression or anorexia, for example, but currently stable and in remission, not an actively depressed or anorexic kid.</p>
<p>Autism is not an episodic condition like depression often is, but some kids on the mild end of the autistic spectrum function extremely well and do not need medical supervision.</p>
<p>I would imagine BS’s will look at whether the illness is likely interfere with your ability to thrive in their environment. You might find more specific information from the National Alliance on Mental Illness.</p>
<p>Hello all. Thank you for responding. I am the case in point. My parents are worried about enrolling me in a BS because I used to have clinical depression and PTSD. I never had anorexia, but I was curious about that. I think I’ve recovered a great deal and I don’t think I’m on the verge of life and death constantly. I have not showed signs of depression for about a year now.</p>
<p>I am autistic, but it does not reflect on my grades. </p>
<p>I did them that I used to have depression/PTSD. I’m worried that they’ll reject me because they dont’ want a suicide or something on their hands (no I’m not suicidal).</p>
<p>Your parents are certainly right to be concerned and to think very carefully before sending you off. That’s a complicated psych history you’re describing.</p>
<p>But the matter is does it affect my chances of acceptance? Whether or not I attend would be a nonfactor if I’m not accepted at all. Do you think schools would deny me on the basis of mental illnesses?</p>
<p>I don’t know enough about you to answer that. I think they probably asked you on the app if you have a history of mental illness, and if so, would it affect your ability to thrive in their program. It depends on what you told them.</p>
<p>Good. And by good, I mean thank you for your answer. I explained to them the situation during the interview, which I will briefly summarize here. During the 9th to 10th grade, I was bullied to the point of physical harm and ended up in the hospital. When I went back to school, the rumors that had floated around during my hospital stay eventually led to my depression and marriage to my room. I’ve now left my public high school and I’m currently home schooled, of course, looking to go to BS next year.</p>
<p>Nope. You honestly don’t have to tell the AOs about them. I, for once, have borderline personality disorder and mild seasonal affective disorder, but I didn’t mention them to any of the schools when applying last year. I’m now a student at a BS in New Jersey. If you have any questions regarding this matter, feel free to message me.</p>
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<p>I don’t know if they would, but they absolutely could - and they would not be violating any law in doing so.</p>
<p>Take, for example, a student with a recently diagnosed and severe eating disorder. Should that student be in boarding school? Probably not - the schools simply don’t have the resources to provide that student with the supervision that he or she would need.</p>
<p>Now, let’s take that same eating disorder and push it back in time a year - now would it be appropriate for the student to be in boarding school? What if the disorder was 2 years ago, or 5? Each school is going to have to evaluate the situation carefully and decide if the school is capable of providing the supervision and resources that the student needs.</p>
<p>If it’s easier, think of this in terms of a diagnosed physical condition, such as a heart defect that’s required repeated surgeries. It’s one thing if this all happened when the student was a very young child. It’s another thing if the most recent surgery was 3 months ago and the student still needs weekly medical checkups.</p>
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<p>Sorry, MBVLoveless, but you’re flat out wrong here. You may not have to mention a medical or psychological disorder in your application, but your parents do. I have yet to see any application (and you know I’ve seen a lot of them!) that does not require to the parent to address “any other circumstance” that might impact the student’s ability to do well in boarding school. Some schools specifically ask about current and past medical and psychological issues.</p>
<p>Schools will be looking to choose kids that they think will be successful in their school environment. Kids with a history of depression, eating disorders etc can have a difficult time with the amount of pressure placed on them in schools. I’m sure the schools will look at kids on an individual bases but it will make it just a little harder for you to get in if the applicant pool is just as talented and doesn’t have the medical/psychologic challenges.</p>
<p>It is easy for us parents to forget how difficult and sometimes cruel middle school is. I am so sorry for the abuse that you suffered, and hope that you are increasingly aware of the special gifts and attributes that you have, which make you a wonderful person. As the parent of a current BS student, and one who is applying this year, I wish I could say that BS is free of the sorts of kids that caused you so much harm. I honestly don’t know. My current BS son has emerged as a far more confident and easy-going young man during his BS experience (he had been bullied at his former school.) However, I think it is fair to say that his wit has been “sharpened,” in that he is more comfortable dealing with situations that make him uncomfortable. Perhaps part of it is maturity, as well. As a person who suffered from an eating disorder at a highly competitive prep school myself, I would advise you to seek both familial and professional support to help you evaluate your preparedness for such a challenging (and thus stressful) new environment. I wish you the very best!</p>
<p>It sounds as if you have been through a rough high school experience. If for whatever reason, you are not accepted for next year, I would suggest spending time looking at colleges where you feel you can be yourself and where you will feel accepted socially. High school is a difficult period and kids are mean at public schools, day schools AND boarding schools. I have a child with a similar history to yours and she is at a college she loves. I tried to PM you, but I haven’t posted enough to have access to that feature.</p>