Mentioning Mental Illness on Apps

Applying to College
1

Yet another post for my little sister’s sake. It is of course too late for me to be worrying about these things for myself - apps are all sent. But my little sister, and several of my younger friends, have struggled with major depression and/or schizophrenia throughout high school. My little sister had to withdraw from most of her classes and be home-schooled - not for greater intellectual stimulus, as I was, but because to remain in that place would been awful for her.

Anyway, she already has some college interviews set up (she’s a junior), and claims she’s going to skirt around the issue. She feels she can construe her decision to home-school as purely intellectual. She’s terrified, however, that her guidance counselor will mention something in the school report, and that everything will be ruined for her. (She perhaps has reason to be afraid. Sophomore year, she was rejected from Interlochen on the basis of mental illness - the school officials actually TOLD us this.) Yes, so - any thoughts?

2

<p>Well, if I were your parents, I would probably consult a lawyer and let him/her sort it all out. This probably isn't an area where you want to wing it.</p>

3

<p>Instead of worrying about whether she gets accepted, I suggest worrying about whether she can find a college that provides the kind of treatment and support that she needs for her mental illness, Her illness could be fatal. It's important that she ends up in a place where she's able to get support and help.</p>

4

<p>If she can get a letter from her therapist stating what her treatment consists of and that he/she feels your sister is ready for a college setting and can handle it, it would help. I know that Interlochen accepts lots of kids with depression and emotional issues, which are not uncommon in artistic kids. However, they will not accept a student if they feel they are not equipped to provide the right support. I'm sure colleges take a similar approach.</p>

5

<p>I must agree with some of the other posters. </p>

<p>I have been reading on schizophrenia just for curiosity's sake, and I know that it is often at the most stressful places and times when a panic attack might strike... and, as you probably know, it could lead to some very serious consequences. </p>

<p>Make absolutely sure she's ready for a college setting. It's very strenuous, even for those of us who are lucky enough not to be diagnosed with a mental illness. I don't know this from experience, but, seeing as I'm the youngest cousin in my family, I have heard countless college stories from cousins, parents, and other relatives.</p>

<p>I've read some personal stories by those affected with schizophrenia, and they say the biggest potential for panic attacks is before, during, or after critical transitions and/or changes in life. </p>

<p>Again, be careful and ensure she's up to the challenge, both mentally, physically, and emotionally.</p>

6

<p>I agree with the moms. My friend whose daughter was fighting anorexia really felt embattled when she decided that her D was not ready to go away to college. The girl had excellent stats, a great profile and was a candidate for the top schools. The school GC would not have mentioned the problem. The mental health team and doctors thought she was ready, but would need support. Having gone through the college process with two other kids, this mom well knew the stresses that kids go through when they first go to college. Eating disorders run rampant with kids with no history of them. Not to mention all other kinds of psychoses, and neuroses. She insisted that her daughter stay at home and commute. Well, a few rough near relapses were caught, but more tellingly EVERY SINGLE GIRL from their support group that did go off to college, and they were right about where this girl was had some terrible relapses, some with permanent damage. 6 years later, the commuter is now in grad school at an ivy, and is able to cope with counseling--she will probably always need counseling and she realizes this as she has other mental and emotional issues along with the anorexia. There is a big difference between an 18 year old and a 23 year old. There is also a big difference between the graduate school scene and the undergraduate carnival.</p>

<p>But to answer your question, with the suicide and mental health issues colleges are facing, it will certainly have an impact on your sister's admissions decision if her history were revealed. Colleges are not really even equipped to handle "normal " kids going through a bad emotional stretch. To take someone who has some real issues is not something that is advisable. If the student were truly exceptional, and the family had an infrastructure of treatment and care, that would be one thing. Though colleges like Harvard are willing to stretch to accomodate handicapped students that are gifted, the families also have to put out an awful lot. A young lady who graduated from Harvard, Brooke Ellison and is a quadraplegic was accomodated, but her support system meant her mother had to be right there with her. Helen Keller needed her Ann Sullivan. Mental illness is even more insidious than physical issues because they are often invisible until something terrible occurs. It would seem to me that putting such a person who is at that most vulnerable age for mental, behavioural and emotional disorders, and has a history is a dangeroust thing to do.</p>

7

<p>The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibit the exclusion of a qualified individual from the benefits, services or programs of a public entity by reason of a disability. Most colleges will be considered public entities, and thus covered by these statutes; schizophrenia is considered a disability under them.</p>

<p>That doesn't mean, however, that colleges can't take schizophrenia into consideration in making admissions decisions:</p>

<p>"The Rehabilitation Act forbids discrimination based on stereotypes about a handicap, but it does not forbid decisions based on the actual attributes of the handicap." Anderson v. University of Wisconsin, 841 F.2d 737, 740 (7th Cir. 1988). </p>

<p>If your sister were able to establish that her schizophrenia is in remission, or is under control when she takes anti-psychotic drugs, for example, colleges would be prohibited by law from ruling her out simply by virtue of the diagnosis of schizophrenia. </p>

<p>Of course, it's one thing to say such discrimination is unlawful, and another to say that she won't be discriminated against. Actual discrimination is common, but difficult to prove. If she's considering schools that turn away large numbers of qualified applicants, it would be very hard to prove that the school had unlawfully discriminated by virtue of their rejection of your sister.</p>

<p>I'm sure that your sister is more interested in furthering her education than in becoming a plaintiff, and wants to maximize her chances of succeeding in college.</p>

<p>Moving away from home and starting college are both really stressful events. I imagine there may be additional stresses for anyone moving from home schooling to a traditional classroom setting. There's nothing that says she has to experience all of these stressful events at the same time.</p>

<p>It might not be a bad idea to consider starting by taking one or two college courses while living at home. Success in these could be a source of confidence, and lower the stress when she's ready to go to college full-time, or ready to move away from home.</p>

8

<p>I don't think she should mention it. If she is certain that she'll have access to adequate treatment while at college, and if she is currently in remission, she really shouldn't mention this.</p>

<p>Colleges, whether public of private, don't want to take responsiblity over kids who might turn out to be a lot of trouble. Sure, they'll never say that that's the reason she's been rejected... but they're adcoms, and they have to think about their college. And in most cases, colleges do not want to be in charge of kids with such serious problems.</p>