<p>Would it be okay for me to talk about an illness i had and explain how it was the reason that I did badly the first marking period of a class but is also the reason I started to work harder and ended up bringing my grade up to a high A? It's the class most related to my major and I want to talk about how having this illness actually made me passionate about the subject
It's not focusing on the class but more as the progression of the illness as a whole and I have a clever way of introducing it and making it entertaining and story like.
I just don't want to make it sound like I am using it as an excuse because even though I ended the first marking period with a 79/80 I ended up bringing my grade up to a 97 by the final marking period and had a good average so it's not that I'm complaining, more that I'm explaining why I am so passionate. Would that be okay? </p>
<p>@coollkids I spoke about suffering through a very serious illness in my essay, so I’d say go ahead and include it–especially if it helps explain your grades. Be careful, though, as you don’t want to come across as trying to elicit sympathy. Discuss it in a positive, uplifting manner, and share it’s relationship to what you’d like to study. The key is to frame your illness as something that you’ve had to come and something that has helped you define your interests. I hope this helps. Best of luck! </p>
<p>Okay! Thank you so much @emersongarcia . My illness wasn’t too terrible in the sense that it wasn’t life threatening but it caused huge anxiety issues and stuff that I had to overcome so it did impact my grades. I want to explain what I went through and even though most people say to save it for the guidance counselor, I don’t think she could explain how that stemmed my interest in my major </p>
<p>Also, do you think it would be acceptable for me to tie it in with the failure prompt- like how my body failed me? </p>
<p>I’m going to jump in and say that the “illness” essay is a very, very common essay, and can easily be cliché if you don’t do something really unique with it. Illnesses, especially when you’re speaking about academic consequences from them, it’s better to mention as a side note in the “additional information” section, or to have your counsellor bring it up. So, in short, I don’t think you should choose this topic unless you have a really compelling and unique story. Just my opinion.</p>
<p>Good luck! :)</p>
<p>I don’t know how “compelling and unique” I can make it sound but I do intend to write it in a creative way-- do you still advise me not to @LAMuniv ?</p>
<p>It really depends on your individual essay. I recommend you write it or just a sloppy draft of it that would get the general sense of what you’re doing (if you have time) and then have people here look it over. I would be happy to check it for cliché-ness etc. once you have a draft or outline. 
if you want me to read it, just PM it to me. If you don’t feel comfortable having me read it, I totally understand that too. </p>
<p>Okay, thank you @LAMuniv. I will definitely consider that. I haven’t finished it yet but I might PM you when I do.</p>
<p>good luck. Also, @LAMuniv, are you a high school senior applying this fall?</p>
<p>@Goring I’m a graduated high schooler on a gap year currently applying to college. In the meantime I am working full time as an English teacher and archivist from the private school from which I graduated. </p>
<p>OP, you sound really enthusiastic about your idea and what you want to convey through your essay. This is the most important aspect of essay writing for college admissions. The topic is not important. Be careful about peer editing - you would be better served having an adult who knows you read your essay. This is great advice about writing the college essay: <a href=“Advice on Putting Together Your Application | Yale College Undergraduate Admissions”>Advice on Putting Together Your Application | Yale College Undergraduate Admissions;