<p>I have an idea for the essay for one of my applications. I'd like to know if it's a bad idea.</p>
<p>Some background: I currently attend a community college, and am trying to transfer. However, I've got a problem. I've had some mental health issues in the past (depression), and this is reflected in my academic record: I've got a couple semesters when I wasn't taking classes, I've got six Ws (including on semester where I got a W in every class but one), and -- most importantly -- I was denied registration at an LAC after only one semester because I'd failed all my classes. I've got a second problem, too: I never underwent any real treatment, so even though my health is quite a bit better now (knock on wood), I don't have anything official I can point to and say, "See, I've been treated, look how responsible and sane and not at all a liability I am." </p>
<p>One of the applications I'm filling out has a single essay question -- explain my reasons for transferring. I'm considering using the space to explain what happened (including why, after being temporarily booted from the LAC, I didn't go back) and to explain that some of the things that triggered my illness (particularly not having any kind of goal or reason to want to be in school) have been taken care of. The emphasis, of course, would be on the fact that I'm now better and that I have a goal. I was also thinking that, to counter the negativity inherent in such an essay (and to cut down on the sheer ridiculousness of how bad things got at points), I should make it a humorous essay. If I could pull that off, I'm thinking, it would also be a clear indication of writing ability.</p>
<p>So, is this a good way to explain away a black mark, or a disaster in the making?</p>
<p>Thanks. :)</p>
<p>i don't know. it's a controversial issue, so expect some rather harsh comments. i myself am not well-equipped to answer your question. :)</p>
<p>i know for grad school, you should NEVER right about your own mental health, because the schools dont want to risk any liability, and they want to make sure their students are stable. i imagine its similar for college</p>
<p>Will you be a junior after the transfer? Is that why you're trying to transfer? Or could you continue at the CC for awhile? (In other words, do you need to transfer or do you just want to transfer?)</p>
<p>I'll be a junior, yes, so I do need to transfer.</p>
<p>We can't know who will be reading the essay and making decisions. You never know, you could get the one adcom who overcame depression him/herself and has deep empathy for others who have done the same. But don't count on it. </p>
<p>My thought would be to steer clear of mental illness and depression as your essay topic and instead talk about maturity/immaturity, goals/shiftlessness, needing time to grow, develop study habits, better coping strategies, etc. If you worked during some of the gap time, maybe talk about that, something anything but not that you had an untreated mental illness. I think that's too risky. Think about some of the things that contribute to depression. Because there are things that contribute. I'm not saying they bring it on or are the cause (I have family members who have suffered terribly from depression, I do understand). But there are poor coping mechanisms that make things worse and tend to exacerbate the situation. Those are things you could talk about in the context of having developed better tools to succeed now and in the future. You can come clean with an "I didn't do a very good job of this at first, but I'm ready to roll now" kind of an approach (assuming your recent grades support that). </p>
<p>Hope that all made sense.</p>