<p>i know we're all in high school, but i was wondering for opinions...</p>
<p>so I'm not gonna elaborate too much, but how much of a mistake would it be to mention something mental illness related to college admissions? how exactly do you think they would view this, assuming it's more for explanation than anything else? i hear showing any mental instability scares adcoms as much as a criminal record, but can you see any way that this is not total application suicide?</p>
<p>the only people i can ask irl are my parents (who say definitely not to)... and wait. that's it. i can't ask my friends or my teachers because i don't want them to think i'm weird.
i'm very glad this is anonymous lol</p>
<p>Generally speaking, it is very risky to discuss your mental health in a college application. I would not do it.</p>
<p>I would, however, look at the mental health services available at the schools you are considering, and spend some serious time at campuses you’re considering seriously.</p>
<p>College can be stressful, even the stress is positive.</p>
<p>If the mental illness noticeably and negatively impacted your academic record, i.e. your grades dropped, then it will raise a red flag. You could ask your guidance counselor to mention it, and then you can also mention it in “additional information”</p>
<p>But only do it if you think you’ve grown from it or if it really shows. Otherwise, if your grades look perfectly the same then you’re probably better off not even mentioning it. </p>
<p>That’s the advice I’ve been told. For me personally, I’m mentioning it because in my case it’s pretty obvious.</p>
<p>You can overcome depression, which is a mental illness. Granted, I have no idea what OP is going through, but I just put it out there in case he/she may find it helpful.</p>
<p>i’m actually not sure where i’ll be with my “problems” in six months; i could be past it. i know that i sound vague, but there’s not much i can say without giving away my problems completely. </p>
<p>the reason i want to mention something is because my mental “issues” have affected something academic related, and i feel really bad that this all happened junior year. it didn’t drastically affect my chances anywhere (i don’t think so, at least), but i would like to explain myself. </p>
<p>@quidditchcat,
my grades do not look the same. i got the first c of my whole life. but i’m not sure if the c’s (yes, sadly multiple, but at least only in one subject) i got are enough to mention anything. i just don’t want adcoms to think that i’m lazy (compared to my previous academic performance).</p>
<p>i know that college can be stressful, but the stress wasn’t really caused by school. i know that extra stress can cause more problems for me, but i think i will be very happy at college.</p>
<p>Typically, if the issue is tangible (illness or hospitalization, death in the family, etc.), it is best to let the GC mention it, or have a teacher rec that demonstrates how you are coping with a temporary setback or trauma.</p>
<p>Hopefully, that is the case for you. Many colleges are risk-averse, though. It often depends on the selectivity of the college.</p>
<p>And while many people live happy lives after a breakdown or diagnosis, the change in circumstance brings with it challenges - you need to convince colleges that you are proactive, able to see when you need help and ask for it appropriately without your customary supports (friends, parents, doctors, etc.)</p>
<p>Every situation is different, but I have not seen many students be successful with disclosure of mental illness.</p>
<p>Depending on what the mental illness is, they won’t think you’re lazy as long as you can show them that you’ve improved (i.e. proof of medical treatment if need be, getting a higher GPA the next year, etc.)</p>
<p>so maybe if i provide proof that i can take care of myself? and then of course make sure my senior year grades are perfect. i’m still not sure that, no matter what i do, if they’ll write me off as too risky and move on to the next and, likely, very normal in comparison candidate. but then i don’t want my c’s in physics to ruin my chances, either! :(</p>
<p>Funny how the stigma mental illness persists. If op wanted to write am essay about battling cancer or living with diabetes there would be no discussion.
And we wonder why people are reluctant to seek help.</p>
<p>really?? my therapist told me that certain mental illnesses can affect reasoning and logic ability, so maybe it’s not such a huge coincidence. that probably made me sound crazy, mentioning my therapist… lol (and i hope i didn’t offend you)</p>
<p>i’ve given up all hope on the subject. my teacher was an ex-nasa engineer (why she became a teacher afterwards is beyond me) and makes everything seem like a cake walk. she doesn’t even expect her students to struggle. and most didn’t. i was not in that lucky majority. </p>
<p>haha thanks!
sounds kind of like my calc teacher. Except that she wasn’t like a super skilled person - apparently failed college calculus. How she got a job teaching calculus, I will never know. It wasn’t even that the topics were hard - it was almost like she wanted us to fail all the tests.</p>
<p>teacher standards should be higher and teachers should be paid a lot more
in finland, teaching is supposed to be a very prestigious career, where teachers had to perform in the top of their class, and look how well they’re doing</p>
<p>but now i’m being hypocritical because i’m sure my ex-physics teacher would qualify for teaching in finland
so maybe some students are hopeless (lol me)</p>