<p>Hello-</p>
<p>Alright, I need some help with my personal statement and chances because right now I am psyching myself out. So here's my story:</p>
<p>I am considering applying to several universities (University of Michigan, UC Berkeley, Northeastern, Boston University and some safety schools) as a transfer student for the Fall 2013 semester. I studied at American University from 2007-2009 but I later dropped out to pursue a career in the wine industry. I have been successfully working in the wine industry now for about three years, but I would like to continue to pursue my education. </p>
<p>However, due to some mental health issues, I did not do very well at American University. My GPA from that school is about 2.84. When I later moved to California, I started taking classes part-time at California State University: Fullerton to sort of see what classes I enjoyed and what potential major I would like to study, if I ever chose to go back to college. I have taken 15 credits there so far and my GPA from that school is a 3.60. I have decided, based on the classes that I took at Fullerton, that I would like to get a Bachelor's in Linguistics. </p>
<p>My question is: my mental health issues very negatively impacted my ability to be successful at American University, but now that I have become more adept at dealing with those issues, how should I explain that on my application? Is it taboo to discuss depression in a personal statement?</p>
<p>Also, I know that you can't tell me if I will be accepted or not at those schools, but do I look like I could be a competitive applicant? </p>
<p>Also also, how much should I include about the things that I've done since I was last enrolled full-time in college? Like, should I just list things about working as a sommelier (wine expert) or should I also include the other things that I have done recently such as got my TESOL certificate, published several articles related to wine and travel and traveled abroad to China, Australia and New Zealand? </p>
<p>I just want to know if they are going to see my frenetic 3 years out of college as "a learning experience" or as "a schizophrenic with severe indecision"? </p>
<p>Alrighty then, thanks in advance to everyone taking the time to read this! I hope I put it in the right forum...</p>