Essays - medical illness

(I’m a parent.). If my child is applying to top universities and he has had an illness since he was little that is managed but doesn’t completely go away (say lupus or MS or something), if he has great grades etc, do you think to answer an essay question it’s a positive or a negative to disclose his illness given it’s shaped who he is and fits in with the essay question and it is pretty remarkable he’s accomplished what he has despite the illness?

Yes, I think that is applicable. Though he might not want to write about it. This shapes everyday of his life. I feel for you and your son and am happy that he has managed to deal with it and succeed.

It is up to him. There are other ways to do this, as well. His options include:

  1. writing a main essay about it
  2. writing the main essay about something else and writing a short piece in the supplementary essay on this (the one that asks if there is anything else the school should know about you that is not included in the rest of the application
  3. the guidance counselor can write about it
  4. the family or he can write a note that the guidance counselor can include with his or her materials
  5. teachers can also mention it, with his permission

Many schools will see the ability to overcome adversity- of any kind- very positively.

I am also PM’ing you