<p>Would being schizophrenic in anyway affect my application? Does anyone know if I need to add that fact in anywhere?</p>
<p>I started showing symptoms at the beginning of my freshman year, and it hit me hard. It's kept me from participating in ECs and community service like I wanted to. It's also affected my grades and my test scores. I had to work really hard all through out high school just to be where I am now. I've made a lot of progress with my illness and things are a lot better now though.</p>
<p>If I included a letter with my application on how it's affected me specifically, would this help or hinder me? I would guess that someone who really understands what it is like for me to have schizophrenia (which I would try to explain in the letter) would be impressed that I still managed to keep a 3.8 GPA. However, they may think that I'd struggle even more in college. Also, I wonder if they'd just think I was making up excuses. </p>
<p>I'm especially worried as I wish to be premed.</p>
<p>My guess ( no special inside information here) is that such a letter would not help you get in to a very selective college under current competitive conditions. Look for schools where your grades, test scores, would place you in the upper end of their median range or where your particular talents are in demand. Write good essays without making excuses for yourself-- put your best foot forward and seek out good recommendations from sympathetic teachers, asking them to be discreet. If you prove yourself at college with good grades--premed would not be out of the question for you. But first things first: continue your progress with your illness, get admitted to a college offering the courses you want--perhaps in a supportive, low pressure environment where access to mental health support would also be available and friends, family members are not too far away. After a successful freshman year, you'll be in a better position to assess your chances in the premed direction. Since you're in the Midwest, perhaps have a look at Earlham -- a good academic reputation and known to have a supportive caring atmosphere. All the best to you.</p>
<p>i know that for grad school apps in psych, you should NEVER write about your own psych history. I would imagine that its sort of similar for colleges- you dont want them to think you are unstable or dangerous- some places who dont really know much about serious psych illnesses may unfairly see it as a huge risk. They may even insist that you have a mental health eval by their counseling center. I definitely wouldnt recommend that you mention it because of the stigma of mental illness. If you feel that it is a huge part of you, talk about overcoming some medical issues, but dont be specific.</p>
<p>I would not tell the colleges. They may feel some kind of liability or fear - though needless - about accepting you. You have a very good grade point average and should get into a good school. As a previous poster said, choose a school with a good mental health support system. By the way, I did read an article about a girl with schizophrenia who was at Brandeis and doing well.</p>