Is it ever a good idea to discuss medical issues on an application?

<p>Hi all!
I hope someone takes the time to answer this question for me: Should I ever disclose that the reason I have a 3.3 was because of an unfortunate outbreak of seizures my freshman year in college and the subsequent stress of overmedication which lasted 2 years 1/2? I hope to apply to NYU, Georgetown, Columbia, Northwestern, UChicago, American, George Washington, LSE and other schools with good IR/Journalism programs in Fall 2010. But I'd like to know before I start planning for my statements of purpose. </p>

<p>Here's some more stuff for you to know:
a very unimpressive 1220 w/ a 4.5 writing score (I'm retaking in May)</p>

<p>-Cumulative 3.35 from Florida International University.I graduated with 2 BA's, one in journalism and one in literature. </p>

<p>Work Experience:
-MTV Latinamerica
-Reported from the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City for the Global Youth Coalition Against AIDS and MTV
-Been published in Editor and Publisher Magazine
-Worked at a Scripps Newspaper up in Stuart FL
-Written for my school newspaper.
-Co-producer for an online documentary on HIV/AIDS in South Florida, featured on The Miami Herald's website.
-Currently an Americorps:Public Allies volunteer doing Grant Writing for a Arts in educatin Non-Profit
-Am working with the Media and Communication subcommittee for the up and coming International AIDS Conference in Vienna this summer.
-There's more stuff but meh...</p>

<p>Other:
-I am fluent in Spanish, English, and Italian.
-Hispanic/technically "disabled" but I hate using that in my favor.</p>

<p>-Any recommendations for schools in Europe are welcome for Programs in the International Relations/Public Health/Journalism department</p>

<p>A few things I am very curious/concerned about:
-Can my resume make up for my unimpresive GPA?
-What are my odds right now? I really don't want to take the GRE again. Thanks all!:s</p>

<p>I think your r</p>

<p>Thanks! The AW score was a BIG surprise. I’m used to writting well-reasoned, grammatically correct articles on a deadline. So what could have happened. I don’t know. The math section is suprisingly the easy part. It’s all formula memorization and application. Probably needs more memorization. The reading part was the BIGGEST surprise (the score, not the material) considering all my practice tests landed me at 750+. </p>

<p>The advice for how to spin my “spazing” is much appreciated. It was and has been, in fact, a strange sort of inspiration. Always has been. My fear was that an admin. board would see that as a deterrent to accepting me into a program because I might start spazing again under pressure.</p>

<p>Don’t talk about it but discuss this issue with your LOR writers. They most likely will write a sentence or two saying that despite your seizures, you have proven yourself to be an excellent student. Your LOR writers have more space to write than you do!</p>

<p>i agree with tickle, let your LOR writers cover the medical issues. be sure to ask one that you are particularly close with to include that in their letter so that you can leave it out of your SOP all together.</p>

<p>i hate using identity markers to my advantage too, but whenever an application or grant comes around, suddenly i am a VERY female low-income welsh separatist jewish roma. hahahaha. it’s a little mercenary but i take what i can get.</p>