<p>I'm a sophomore. I have suffered from clinical depression since my freshman year. I have just been diagnosed and put on medication. I had a terrible UW GPA (for me, knowing that I'm capable of straight A's) my freshman year.. a 3.4. This year, I improved and will get anywhere from a 3.6 - 3.74 (depends on my how I do on my finals).</p>
<p>Anyways, I notice that I'm feeling much happier and less anxious since being put on medication. I have been focusing more easily and socializing more. I'm very confident that I will be able to make that 4.0 next year. My EC's are developing wonderfully, which I'm very happy about and based on my PSAT's, my SAT score should be 2300+.</p>
<p>So, my question is, since my overall UW GPA will be around a 3.7 (3.72, best case scenario), should I bother mentioning my depression? I've heard that colleges don't want depressed students, but I am getting better, and will definitely be fine by the time I go to college. My GPA has an upward trend and every other aspect of my application is strong. At colleges that don't count freshman grade, my UW GPA will be around a 3.85. As high reaches, I'm hoping to apply to Stanford, Yale, and Princeton.</p>
<p>A 3.85 unweighted GPA warrants you to get an upper hand for clinical depression? I know kids who have amazing lives that can’t do that… Anyone can say they’re clinically depressed. -.- it’s like saying, oh I was going through a depressive stage, so that’s why I got a B in Calc BC, like get the **** over that honestly.</p>
<p>No, a 3.72 at best - 3.85 only at schools that don’t count freshman grades.</p>
<p>I know that anyone can… My parents thought that I was depressed for 2 years. I was diagnosed by a doctor and am on medication, as I stated. I wouldn’t take drugs for no reason.</p>
<p>You have some time to decide on this. However, you can say you had a medical issue if you feel as though you have to explain anything. Laws protect medical histories, so we do not have to give details on helath issues.</p>
<p>^^^Also you are aware that by saying you are portraying an overcame obstacle, this means you didn’t have this to begin with and that you’re essentially lying, right? I’m sorry but if you getting a C in one class and a B in 5 others over 4 years of high school is a reason for putting clinical depression on your transcript, there’s something wrong with you. Now if you have a life changing disease or you were in an orphanage or homeless (god forbid), sure you can put that on your transcript. </p>
<p>A lot of people in the world are depressed just fyi, and do much worse than you.</p>
<p>Well she is diagnosed by the doctor as suffering from depression.</p>
<p>And I think this can benefit you if you explain to the colleges. It’ll show why you didn’t do so well in the beginning. And it shows how even though you had this hardship, you still managed to get a good GPA.</p>
<p>^^^Um, who says her doctor is right? A lot of kids act/are depressed and don’t go for diagnosis.
^^Thanks for further proving why you are asking a pointless question lol.
^That would be pathetic@depressed because of grades.</p>
<p>My parents have been bugging me about seeing a psychologist since last year. They noticed a big change in my personality.</p>
<p>No, my depression was not caused by grades. It was caused by my parents’ divorce, issues with my parents and stepmother, my grandmother’s death, going from being popular to having no friends, my brother (who I’m very close to) leaving for college, suddenly not being the smartest kid in school…</p>
<p>I know that the 3.7ish GPA this year isn’t bad; it’s the 3.4 GPA that I’m most worried about, because it doesn’t show my true capabilities whatsoever…especially since I didn’t even take all Honors courses that year.</p>
<p>Well even if the doctor is not right, they’ll still believe him/her because he/she is considered a professional. This is why if they’re proven wrong they get severely punished by the law. However, no college and ctgirl would do that over this minor issue. Plus it’ll cost a lot of money. Why do you find this so hard to believe</p>
<p>I know somewhat how you feel: parents’ divorce, issues with family members (trust me when I say you have no idea in my case), sibling leaving for college, suddenly feeling stupid among a bunch of other incredibly bright people.</p>
<p>It’s hard, but you have to learn how to deal with these things. For a couple of those issues, time will certainly help heal. I’m speaking from experience. For others, it may only deepen the wound. Just pay attention to how you feel about certain events and learn to realize what is and is not important to you at specific times.</p>
<p>If you get exhausted or depressed, turn to something you love doing. If you need to talk about it, there are always people willing to listen and help.</p>
<p>^^It’s easier to believe now that she stated valid reasons, but I think it’s dumb that she claims it even after she outperforms a majority of people anyway, it just seems pointless.</p>
<p>Do you want admissions officers to single you out as “the girl who had depression?” Don’t mention it. A 3.4 is nothing if you can just have an upwards grade trend. And instead of wasting all of your time trying to get into Ivies that less than 2% of all graduating high school seniors get into, look to some match and safety schools.</p>
<p>MattNC: Thanks for sharing your opinion. The fact that I diminished my chances at top schools because of my GPA just really gets to me. I’m a perfectionist when it comes to academics.</p>
<p>Leila: No, I definitely don’t want to be known for depression! I would hope that if I did mention it, my EC’s, recs, essays, and test scores would make me stand out.</p>