<p>My brother is a current junior and I really want to advise him correctly when he writes his common app essay. When he was 14 or 15 he was diagnosed with type 1 (juvenile) diabetes. He needs to test his blood sugar, count carbs, and give himself insulin every time he eats anything, in addition to a bunch of other responsibilities. He's tossing around the idea of writing about an overnight event he went to after being recently diagnosed, and how for the first time, there was no mom or dad to help him-- he was all on his own and he did it and succeeded, etc. </p>
<p>I know some general rules-- don't make it about pity or sympathy, don't portray yourself as unable to function normally-- but is there a reason he should avoid the topic entirely? It's a pretty big part of his life and he feels weird not writing about it, but I guess if he searched he could find another topic. Are there any examples of disability essays done right or wrong, or things he should add or avoid?</p>
<p>I definitely think the disability essay can help you stand out if done well. I wrote my main common app essay about a disability (being deaf) and was accepted ED to my top choice as well as all the other schools I heard from prior. There is obviously more than one “right” way of going about it, but I emphasized how my deafness positively shaped me as a person while also not downplaying the struggles that came along with it. I discussed having to work harder in school and wrestling my own self-doubts both socially and academically when I was younger, growing to accept myself, and then becoming very involved in community service and volunteering with people with hearing loss as a result. Some suggestions I would have would be to make it personal and avoid being too one-dimensional. Focus on how being a diabetic affected him personally, not just that he had to give himself shots and test his blood sugar (which should be mentioned and is undoubtedly struggle), but also the emotional impact that accompanied it. I guess what I am trying to say is don’t make it a story that any other teenager with Type 1 Diabetes could take as his/her own, tailor it to how it personally changed him. I think the story he is planning on using has great potential. Also, I made sure to make it clear that my deafness was not a defining factor, from my resume (which did including the volunteer activities I mentioned, but also plenty of non hearing-oriented positions as well) and I did not mention it in my other two essays, instead focusing on other defining experiences. Good luck and feel free to contact me for any more suggestions!</p>