<p>Hello all:
As I mentioned in another thread, <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/1666122-taboo-essay-topics.html#latest">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/1666122-taboo-essay-topics.html#latest</a>, I struggled with an eating disorder since sixth grade and was hospitalized for four months sophomore year. I decided not to write an essay about it, as I don't want to be "defined by my eating disorder" and I don't want admissions officers to think I would relapse.
However, treatment and therapy have taken up a significant portion of my time in high school, limiting my extracurriculars and I had to quit cross country. I want this to be explained somehow without my eating disorder being mentioned. I was thinking about asking my guidance counselor to write in my letter of recommendation that I had 'medical issues,' a purposely vague term, from sixth through eleventh grade, and explain how this affected my extracurriculars.
Is this a good idea?
Is there another way I should deal with this?</p>
<p>That is IMO the best way to handle it.</p>
<p>Are the schools you’re applying to going to be concerned with ECs? Many don’t care.</p>
<p>n/t</p>
<p>That makes a lot of sense but talk to your GC first to see if he/she is willing to include it in the recommendation using wording you prefer. Otherwise the common app has an “other” section and you could write about it there using whatever wording you like.</p>
<p>@MrMom62: I plan on applying to my state university, a few LACs like Grinnell, Macalester and Bowdoin, as well as Brown, UChicago and Yale, so ECs will be important.
@happy1: That sounds good. I’ll definitely talk to her.</p>
<p>In that case, you’ll need ECs. Your GC is the best route to explain your situation.</p>