For the past 2 years, I have unknowingly lived with an extremely hyperactive thyroid, and consequently, generalized anxiety disorder. They have been and remain to be untreated, and I will undergo thyroid removal surgery as soon as possible. However, these unaddressed medical issues have resulted in no energy and no focus, unless under pressure. I have basically been forced to procrastinate until the last minute with almost every assignment. At least 1 night every couple weeks during junior and senior year, I would often have to stay up all night finishing assignments (especially for AP chemistry), as during the week I felt too tired and unmotivated to do so. All my work was done through time pressure and adrenaline, and it really wasn’t my decision. It felt literally impossible to work ahead on assignments and actually make progress because of the fatigue. However, the silver lining is that I maintained a 4.4 GPA, all A’s (mostly 97+), and many of my papers written at the very last hour were the best in the class. I was driven by pure ambition, which was the main factor in overcoming a detrimental fatigue that, for most people, wouldn’t end well. Is it worth mentioning briefly on my college application? ( Not trying to be overdramatic, just describing the very real and overwhelming symptoms that I have dealt with and overcome. It has made high school much more difficult than it should be.)
You could ask your guidance counselor to briefly mention it in his/her letter of recommendation to college. That way it will come off as an independently verified fact and there will be no chance of it sounding like an applicant making an excuse.
Adding: asking the GC also gives her/him a chance to note how well you’ve done in triumphing over this, maybe rave a little. I might advise to carefully consider whether you mention the procrastination and late nights, though. You could explain how you had to focus all your efforts, how chlalenging it has been, in a way that doesn’t reveal the extreme last minute.
@happy1 What do you think about this?
@lookingforward I agree completely.
agreeing that this is for the GC to comment on.
But: your title left me wondering if there is a bit of subtext here. You specify “Ivy” as if that is relevant in whether to say something. Surely your achievement is just as significant whether you are applying to your state flagship or a random LAC or a tippy top? Your rather purple prose adds to that impression; you were not “forced to procrastinate”- persistent tiredness may have meant that getting motivated to work was hard, even impossible, but you were not “forced” not to work. I wonder if you are thinking that it would impress the tippy tops at how smart you must be if you could, while dealing with a medical issue, working at the last minute, still write papers that “were the very best in the class” (pointing out that “for most people” it “wouldn’t end well.”), and that that might be what tips the balance for you?
I don’t mean to be unkind: your marks are exceptional, and that you achieved them while struggling with an undiagnosed medical issue is an achievement. But.
Not trying to tip any scale, just trying to contextualize the situation, with brevity. Brevity often requires generalizing.
especially within a forum post
Ivy League = attention grabber , more clicks , more responses
“Forced”- context. Understand the severity of the condition. Was I literally forced? No. But that’s what it felt like . You get the point.
Pointing out gpa and grades - again, context. To show that I am not using this as an excuse or crutch , as I obviously don’t need one.
Adcoms don’t necessarily need full context from the applicant. They want to envision you in their community, based on qualities that come through. If you do mean Ivies, you should have an idea of what those attributes are. It’s not as simple as, “Worked hard, despite…” Ask yourself what adcoms at that college will see in you, while reading your essay.
This is one important way a college app essay is different than a hs essay. No need for detailed explanations.
I would make sure your GC knows so that they can say “CosmicMirage has done very well in school despite some ongoing medical issues that are now being treated.” Colleges don’t need to know more than tat.
No need for anyone to talk about procrastination…just that you need to be medically treated and learn that is not the best approach.
I am going to challenge some of these responses. I understand that you don’t want to convey a “woe is me” attitude or send up major red flags. However, it is a testament to someones strength to endure years of misdiagnosis. It likely has been the most impactful experience of his life to date. Why in the world would that be BAD to talk about? Don’t colleges want to know the real student?
Pretty sure that nobody said that it was BAD. Having information about a health challenge (especially one that is about to resolved) come from the GC has two advantages: 1) the GC’s comments are likely to carry more weight and 2) it leaves space in the essay to tell another part of OP’s story.
In my opinion, one should not simply refer to “an ongoing medical issue that is now being treated” as it leaves too much room for speculation. Either be specific or don’t mention it at all.
Also, is it legal for a guidance counselor to reveal or write about a specific student’s health issue ?
In any event, probably not wise to discuss or reveal upcoming surgery.
If you have stellar grades & class standing, then the illness may only be relevant to discuss why one has a lack of ECs.
@Publisher It is my understanding that the guidance counselor may mention things like medical issues, learning disabilities with the express permission of the family (at least that is the way it is done in our school district).