I’m aware when writing their college apps, students sometimes use essays (or other sections?) to explain their grades in light of a situation. I am typically a straight A student with a rigorous course load, however this year - as a junior - I have dealt with both diagnosed mental health issues and a more serious chronic medical issue, which has allowed me a 504 at school. This has lead to increased absences and an inability to focus when in school. I received a B in AP Chem first semester, and I’m looking at a B or most likely C this semester… I don’t know about my other classes this semester but there may be another B. Would it be appropriate to explain this, either separately or through my essays? And if I have good scores and other grades, and extracurriculars, to prove I am making an effort, will it deeply affect me if I’m aiming for strong engineering schools? (Not Ivy league necessarily, but I would like to go to possibly UC Berkeley or GA Tech for example)
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Make sure your GC who will be doing your recommendation knows about your issues. They can address them.
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In the Common App, there is an “Additonal Information” section, which has a 650 word limit.
This is where you can explain a situation that you feel the
colleges need to know about, like maybe you had an illness in your family, or maybe you were ill.
You might also explain good news! If it’s important to your story, and if it hasn’t been addressed
elsewhere, then this is the place where you can be sure to let the colleges know. -
Before you go to college, make sure your health and mental health issues are addressed and are under control. College adds more stress to everything because your room, your roommate, your friends, your school, your food and your teachers are all different.
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The college will want to know your health issues are under cotnrol before you attend…so make sure that in 1) and 2) that is addressed
Side issue: you can’t be in-state for both GTech or UC Berkeley, and neither offers financial aid to OOS students, so you could only reasonably afford at least one if your parents can afford 60K per year off income and savings. Please check with them before you get excited about them. 
Second side issue:
You’ll be okay if your GC explains the situation. However, try to think more broadly - the hard work is finding 2 affordable safeties and several targets/matches that admit at least 40% people and where you’re near the top 25% students.
Thank you so much, I will consider all of this! @bopper
I’m in CA - but I’ve done net price calculators for many schools, and yes I will need significant amounts of FA, but actually GA Tech is reasonable and it was mainly an example. Thanks for letting me know about the GC. I have a large list of safeties and matches, however I was wondering how it would affect my chances at reach schools. @MYOS1634