As of right now, my GPA is a 3.8 unweighted. However, my depression really affected my grades because I could’ve had a 4.0. How will colleges approach this?
Do you think that you learned from that experience specifically or was it just something that happened? (I’m in high school so I’m speaking from a position of inexperience)
Not sure what you mean by “experience”. Depression is a mental illness and is not something temporary, so I’m not sure I quite understand your question…
Absolutely not. A 3.8 UW is good enough for any college in the country. If you don’t get in, it will be for some other reason.
About your question. Do not ever mention depression in an application. never!!!..you do not ever say thatching what you think is a low GPA must not ever be attributed to depression because that leaves you open to speculation that a depressive episode could have an adverse impact on grades in college. After you register for classes go to the disability office to ask about accommodations and how to document depression. I am pleased that you recognize that depression is not cured, but can recur and require some sort of treatment.
About your question. Do not ever mention depression in an application. never!!!..you do not ever say that what you think is a low GPA can ever be attributed to depression because that leaves you open to speculation that a depressive episode could have an adverse impact on grades in college. After you register for classes go to the disability office to ask about accommodations and how to document depression. [-O< :-L :-@ >-) :-w
Were the lower grades in a specific year? Was your depression triggered by an event in your life? If thats the situation, then your counselor can talk about the EVENT. But if not I wouldn’t mention it. Especially if the Bs are scattered throughout your transcript. It would just look like you’re making excuses for Bs, which don’t really need an excuse in the first place.
You want to use your essay to say something about yourself that will make you more attractive candidate for colleges. Depression is not a topic that can help you do that. Plus your grades are very good so there is no reason to try to make an excuse for them.
@tiryakichicken I can sympathize you because I had a similar problem too during my first two years of high school, and it did affect my grades quite a bit. For my case, however, I wouldn’t say I was depressed because depression is a serious illness that will affect your life and academics a lot. You could be very stressed or have other problems at hand. But I really want to know if you are really exaggerating your problem or it is a real thing. If you are clinically depressed, your GPA would not be as high as a 3.8, and most likely you would not be in school.
For college applications, my recommendation is not to mention it at all unless under these circumstances:
- You have fully recovered from your depression already and it is not affecting you anymore and
- Throughout the process of recovery, you learned a significant lesson about life such as being happy all depends on yourself not others or sometimes one should not care too much about certain things
- Your experience with depression caused you to take to initiative, for example, starting a fundraiser to help people with mental illness or starting a student counciling club to help other students with problems in life
Only under these circumstances, I think you can mention your depression in your college application with the fact that you have already fully recovered and you have learned a significant lesson or took an initiative. Otherwise do not mention it at all.
I love College Confidential, I really do. But I think it’s in this category that those who are misinformed about the process can really do damage. I suffered, and still do suffer, from diagnosed depression, anxiety, and others similar. I have a very high GPA and a strong profile otherwise. As part of my debate team, I travel frequently to top universities and talk to admissions officers. I have heard the same thing again and again; they want to know who you really are. If depression is a bad thing that is really hurting you and you have nothing positive to say about your condition, THEN you should leave it out (because while they want to know who you genuinely are, a currently festering illness does not best describe you.)
But if it explains a period of bad grades, helps fill in a time of your life that was formative for you, or helps exemplify growth and maturity, then ABSOLUTELY include it. It is the same as any other negative circumstance in terms of a college app; include it if it says something good about you, and not if it doesn’t.
Other commenters, please be more conscious of spreading stigma. It can be quite damaging.
Also, it is blatantly false that people with diagnosed, clinical depression have low GPA’s and school absence. It can be a symptom, and was for me. However, I still have depression and am currently thriving. Again, refrain from spreading false information!
Good luck, OP. You sound, from the info we have, like a wonderful candidate. Make sure to tell your story the right way.
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Thank you! I have always thought that it was a bad stereotype to assume that having depression would mean having a GPA in the 2.0 range. The majority of my grades are As with 1-2 Bs, but there is one semester with two Cs that was mainly caused by a really bad period of my life and I simply couldn’t focus on school because of that. I really appreciate this comment because I have reached out to my therapist and school counselor about starting a mental health awareness campaign at my school. I think I will mention it in my apps, as I am doing much better now. Thanks so much