<p>I've been afflicted with depression and anxiety throughout high school, resulting in my taking on of a less rigorous course load in junior and senior years and a bunch of 'C's at the private school I transferred to last year. Since taking anti-depression/anxiety medication and seeing a therapist that I like, my grades have improved since last year. I'm earning all A's and B+'s except for in an English elective... anyway, should I make any note of this reason for why my grades have not displayed my academic capabilities? (On the Common App.'s Extra Info Section?)</p>
<p>I’m confused. If you have already completed junior and senior year, are you in college now? Or are you repeating 12th grade?</p>
<p>I think this is a tricky situation. No matter what the colleges say, I suspect they don’t want to have to deal with the possible consequences of someone being treated for depression etc. I wouldn’t put it down. Your grades have improved. You can give a more generic account of learning to deal with personal issues or something of the sort. The way I see it, if you are applying to a very competitive school and need to give an explicit explanation, I think (although it’s not right) they would reject you as a risk because of the meds. Less competitive schools would be more likely to accept the upward trend in grades at face value and there’s no need for a more detailed explanation.</p>
<p>See if your GC can make a mention of this. It would probably carry more weight from them as compared to listing it yourself.</p>
<p>I’m a senior. I haven’t repeated a grade. </p>
<p>Thank you for the advice.</p>
<p>Congratulations on your success in seeking and working in treatment and academically. It seems clear to me that, just as a person suffering with, say, diabetes, as long as you take care of yourself, see a therapist, take meds, if that is the case, there is no barrier to your ability to succeed academically. If a diabetic’s sugar went out of control and he was very sick - in and out if hospital, etc fresh and soph yr and suffered poor grades but then, found a talented doctor who adjusted his meds and taught him how to get diabetes in control, I dint think the university would hold thid against him and I dont see your situation any differently. I hopr you and your family are proud of the good work you have done. I think you would be ab asset to a university in some kind of peer specialist program - helping others who have difficukties w/depression ans anxiety when they 1st go away. You would have a sense of empathy and convey hope to otherwise vulnerable students - I know what I am talking about here. Just make sure youare taking care of yourself 1st. Are you planning to go away to school? Will this mean you will have to leave your trusted therapist and transfer to one st the college counselling center? There are ways this can be done but you should plan for them. Also being away from home, in a strange, more intense academic environment can trigger symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. I am sure you go over all of this already. What does your college counselor say about how much to disclose? Depending on the college and particular circumstances, it may be better to be less specific as to the cause being mental healthissues of depression and anxiety and use the standard genreic “personal problems” On the other hand, some schools may welcome your experiece - especially if, for instance if you’ve learned to overcome test taking anxiety by using CBT or other test taking strategy. I think they like to see people who have faced and learned to overcome challenges. I wish you the very best and hope you get into a school that desserves to have you.</p>
<p>I mentioned cancer in my additional information, but as long as you get across your academic ability and motivation won’t be affected, you should be fine. Yes, I’d inform the schools about your situation, but do so lightly. You don’t want to make it seem as though you’re making it some type of hook to them.</p>