<p>Would having some sort of psychiatric/medical/mental disability increase my chances in getting to good colleges like the ivy leagues or anywhere around the top 20's or 30's? Personally, I dont think colleges would disregard the impact a disability has had throughout someones life.</p>
<p>Probably not. I don’t think applying to Harvard with low 80s and claiming you have a disability would explain away anything, for instance. Top schools have oodles of perfect people they can choose from, with and without disabilities.</p>
<p>If you can write a really great essay on how you’ve overcome or at least worked around a disability or hardship, though, it can help. I personally wrote my common application (both for a freshman and transfer) about how I refused to let a label define my strengths and limitations.</p>
<p>Be careful with psychiatric disabilities, though. What with crazies likes Cho Seung-Hui and Jared Loughner in recent years, colleges might understandably get turned off if you announce you have schizophrenia, got hospitalized five times in high school or something similar. Fair? Perhaps, perhaps not, but you can’t blame them for being wary.</p>
<p>Awesome, thanks. Perfect way to demonstrate my hardships and accomplishments would be through the college Essay.</p>