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But is it really a good idea for the student with the unusual medical condition (an interesting hypothetical case) to, on the one hand, build a college application list around the condition but, on the other hand, to not communicate that salient fact to college officials?
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<p>The appropriate college officials with whom to discuss that salient fact would NOT be admissions officials and would certainly not be the alumni interviewer.</p>
<p>The university health services and possibility the office of disability services would be the appropriate people to discuss such matters. They operate under strict confidentiality rules and would share information on a strictly limited basis, based on need-to-know. </p>
<p>There are few situations in which the admissions office would have a need-to-know details of a student's medical condition.</p>
<p>Typical need-to-know issues might be, e.g., the student's resident assistant if the student might be at risk for a life-threatening emergency in the dorms. That kind of disclosure could certainly wait until after admission.</p>
<p>The hypothetical student might certainly want to have some confidential discussions with health services officials and/or disability assistance ahead of time--in developing his list of appropriate colleges.</p>