<p>I've searched quite a few threads for answers to this subject, and the general consensus is that depression should only be mentioned if it significantly affected a student's application (i.e. sudden drop in GPA). In my case, I'm wondering if the drop was "big enough" for it to be an issue. </p>
<p>My cumulative high school GPA (I'm on a gap year now) was a solid 3.8 unweighted, due in large part to a relatively awful 3.55 unweighted GPA in my junior year. I had just transferred to a new school (small, competitive private school that sends 10-15% of each graduating class to Ivies/Stanford/MIT and most of the class to the top 50 USNWR colleges), and was living with relatives, thousands of miles away from my immediate family. My relatives worked long hours during the day, so I was often alone at home whenever I returned from school. That year was really stressful for me, because I had to adapt to a new social environment on top of adjusting to the competitiveness of my school. I had somewhere between 10 and 15 absences, so I missed a LOT of school. My sleep patterns were erratic and I often refused to eat (and sometimes even drink). I ended up losing 5 pounds within the time span of a month, but soon afterwards I sought help for myself since my relatives were too busy to care for me. I managed to pull through the year with all A's and B's in a challenging curriculum (4 APs, an honors science class, and a foreign language class beyond AP level), but my GPA from that year still doesn't look great. </p>
<p>So as I said at the beginning, I really don't know if this is significant enough for me to discuss my situation in great detail. On the one hand, A's and B's in a tough course load at a highly competitive school doesn't sound so bad; on the other, my unweighted GPA was anything but excellent, especially considering the types of schools I'm applying to. The rest of my stats are strong: 2350 SAT Reasoning, 750/790/800/800/790 SAT IIs, 5s and 4s on 10 AP exams, decent ECs, etc. With all this in mind, is the grade drop in my junior year large enough to merit its own discussion on my application?</p>
<p>I think in this case you can turn that challenge into a strength. In fact, when I read what you wrote, I didn’t think “depression,” I thought “overcoming.” Your stats are VERY strong and very impressive. It would be natural for anyone to have a hard time coping with the change you did, but and it would be normal for grades to drop during such a period. But since you pulled them up again, I think this is the kind of thing that colleges would love to see. In fact, it echoes what happens in colleges, when kids can feel lost in a new environment. You’ve proven that you can weather changes and adapt to new situations by doing what you did. To me that seems different from chemical depression, which can spring out of nowhere and can really set kids back (and might be a potential warning signal for schools). So I would not mention the word depression. Just say struggle. And please, take a few minutes to close your eyes and visualize what great things you have accomplished, and celebrate yourself. Your story is impressive indeed!</p>
<p>That is not a psychiatric depression, where the chemicals in your brain decreases and you have to take pills. There are students out there who drop from 4.0 to <2.0 because of psychiatric depression. You’re nothing compared to them.</p>
<p>In other words, you’re fine. Don’t worry about it.</p>
<p>So… I should just act as though nothing happened? I guess I could briefly write about the circumstances (such as transferring to a new school and being away from family), but otherwise, would I need to do anything else?</p>
<p>A lot of things happen in life that you have to “pretend” to not have happened when you apply to colleges—there’s just not enough time or space to write them/let them know in an interview.</p>
<p>Yes, you could write about the circumstances if it is significant in that it helped you grow into a more mature, better person. Otherwise, if it was just a strain, you don’t have to mention it; there are better (more effective) things to write about.</p>
<p>I agree with Endicott and the others. This is not clinical depression. This is a challenging and stressful situation that you overcame by recognizing that you needed assistance and getting it. Turn it into a positive - a situation where you demonstrated resiliancy and maturity, and refused to let a temporary setback prevent you from achieving your goals. </p>
<p>Calling it ‘depression’ in your application sets up red flags that you might be ‘at risk’ for future depression if the situation were stressful again. Some students (a) have had such precipitious drops in their performance that they have to explain it and (b) are potentially at risk and need school environments that are likely to be supportive. You don’t seem to be in this category.</p>