<p>a good idea?</p>
<p>thanks .. ,......
Anyone else?</p>
<p>there was a HUGE (like 50+ pages) discussion about whether or not a girl should use an essay she wrote about overcoming an eating disorder and another psychological issue (i think suicidal thoughts). it was supposedly an optimistic essay, and the response was virutally 50/50. some thought it showed how she was able to overcom adversary, others thought it would scare off schools. it all depends on how the essay is written. it will be a tought topic, for sure, but i don't think it's impossible.</p>
<p>good luck!</p>
<p>No, I don't think so. You should never let mental illness define you, even if you overcame it. (Just my thoughts). Good Luck</p>
<p>I wouldn't do it.</p>
<p>ncmentor has a good point, i agree</p>
<p>Well, I'm in the process of writing about how I overcame anorexia nervosa, worked at a place that enouraged nonconformity, and then created a community service program. I'm not sure if it'll work though.</p>
<p>Yikes. Sounds like a liability. Go for a less controversial topic, as this could either be remarkably successful or blow up in your face.</p>
<p>If you overcame it, it's a very unique topic...just write it <em>very</em> well</p>
<p>that's what I'm doing too! My advice is to go for it as long as you leave the reader feeling encouraged and on the happier side after reading it. It really depends on how you write it. And as far as scaring off admissions people--I figure if they're scared off by someone recovering from a mental illness I'd rather not attend there in the first place.</p>
<p>Expanding a little - anorexia - certainly is a mental disorder and needs treatment, but as many have discovered, can be a peer pressure triggered response, like 40% of the cheerleaders at X-School are bulimic …
If you have overcome, formed a school and professionally lead support group, formalized peer education, or published your experiences than OK your showing others the trap of falling into destructive peer pressure and helping others learn.
BUT
Much of what makes up “Mental Illness” would raise too many questions or old fears to be considered a “good essay topic” on a college application. Certainly a reflective essay about my time in a “mental hospital” would not help an admissions committee want to choose you.
I still say don’t let your illness define you. </p>
<p>We love Lance Armstrong not because he had cancer but because of his other accomplishments, who he is as a person, and then because he became a spokesperson and fundraiser to help millions of others, “Live Strong”</p>
<p>You can be yourself - but maybe choose to be yourself with people who love and care about you, and not an admission committee.</p>
<p>Just remember that having an unusual circumstance doesn't guarantee a good essay. I'm looking at a paper that Berkeley gave me and it tells to show how you confronted and overcame the challenge, not to include it for the sake of its unfortunate circusmtance. It also says to state what you learned in spite of these circumstances.</p>
<p>I hope these tips help</p>
<p>do u have to tell colleges y u were hospitalized? if so, this might be a good topic. i have some friends who ended up in a mental institution, and they've got some really interesting stories from their experiences there.
if u're still dealing with it though, i wouldnt mention it....</p>
<p>It might make a good essay, it might not. It seems to me that if the responses are divided as they are and you're not sure about whether it's a good idea you should probably pick a safer topic.</p>
<p>I was actually a sex crime victim. I faced a lot of obstacles and finally managed to overcome all the difficulties. Is it advisable for me to include this in my esssay? Thank you.</p>