Effects of health problems on mid-year grades

<p>I'm a high school senior in the middle of the college application process. My gpa was low freshman year (3.0) due to a combination of immaturity and depression. I managed to turn myself around and pulled my gpa up to a 3.68 by the end of junior year. Now, during my senior year, I find myself struggling. My depression has resurfaced, and I received a concussion from hockey. These have drastically lowered my grades in my math & science classes (I'm planning on majoring in engineering). Many of the colleges I have applied to take mid-year grades into account for admissions, and I am freaking out about the downward trend my gpa has taken over the course of this semester. When sending in my mid year grades to colleges, should I make it a point for my guidance counselor to include a note that I had a concussion for much of the semester? If so, what is the best way to tell my counselor about my depression?</p>

<p>First, I want to applaud you on your ability to advocate for yourself in high school without your parents helping out. I myself tend to be too much of a ‘helicopter’ at times, so I am impressed. Second, it can be good to tell the counselor about the concussion because my own child had one and it definitely affected how she was doing on a summer online class this year; if the counselor can put something in ‘the system’ about the concussion/its effect / a dip in the grades, that is a good thing. Re: the depression piece, if you are wanting to also talk to the counselor about it, perhaps start the conversation out by explaining that you have had depression for X number of years, that it explains rises/falls in your grades ( you could have a transcript to point to as you explain your depression history) and then ask for the counselor’s advice re: should you explain that in, perhaps, college application essays or does the counselor have the ability to put something in the computer notes or does the counselor have any suggestions on how you should proceed or ??? I wish you the best as you continue the application process and in working through your depression and concussion aftereffects.</p>