<p>My SOP currently is a very cut and dry statement about my qualifications and what led me to my choice of chemical engineering. Problem is that my qualifications are a little on the weaker side.</p>
<p>My friend brought up the idea of talking about epilepsy and how it has affected my UG career (it has hurt my grades in the past). Would this be a good idea despite the fact that an SOP is supposed to sound "professional"?</p>
<p>No, I would not include that in your SOP. Your SOP should explain your qualifications, your targeted research interests and why those make you a good fit at the specific university.</p>
<p>I also had some academic issues - I wrote a separate supplemental statement discussing those.</p>
<p>Thank you for the input. I did not see many applications that had room to add a supplemental statement. Do you think I should just omit epilepsy completely?</p>
<p>Just attach it as a separate document, either electronic or printed.</p>
<p>If you choose not to add such a statement, I would not mention it at all.</p>
<p>Depends on how “little on the weaker side” you are. Do you have a 3.1 GPA with a general upward trend and good grades in your major? I wouldn’t even mention it. But if you had a very poor semester where you failed almost everything, or a number of Ws on your transcript, then it may be worth it to briefly mention (1-2 sentences max) that you had an acute/resolved medical issue that interfered with your grades during Fall 20XX semester, but you’ve learned a lot from the experience and the rest of your grades more accurately reflect your skill.</p>
<p>I agree that this is far better done in a supplemental statement, but if there is no place for it some students have successfully addressed it in their statement. Personally I would go with not addressing it at all, unless it was especially egregious. (FWIW, I had a medical issue myself that led to a semester with an F, two Ws, and two As. I didn’t mention it - at all - and I still got into everywhere I applied. I think it was obvious that it was an isolated semester, since my grades in other semesters were great.)</p>
<p>The thing about medical ailments is that they are risky. Frankly speaking, you may not want to reveal at the beginning that you have epilepsy or depression or anything that’s chronic. As much as professors attempt to be liberal bastions of acceptance, revealing that is going to raise questions about whether you can handle the work necessary to complete the graduate program. Acute disorders are okay because they end quickly. I personally would be vague about any chronic medical conditions and just mention that they are resolved (which they are, because you’ve learned how to handle/control them).</p>