Should I write about a learning disability for my common app essay?

Briefly about me, I was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia in kindergarten after being held back. My parent enrolled my in a very pricey special needs school for my 1st, 2nd,and 3rd grades, which I am so thankful for. I used to be so embarrassed by it and I was in denial I needed help. Over time I matured more and realized it is okay to admit you need help. And it was an obstacle for me in my education and I have learned to adapt. I like to use a metaphor that, telling a 7 year old they have a disability puts a negative seed in their mind, and it will continue to grow as long as you are watering it. I had that seed in my mind for the longest time because in my mind, “what’s the point in trying if I never going to be slower than everyone else?” I like to think my mindset was my biggest limitation. In the 8th grade I had the realization that I don’t want to limit my self and I don’t want to look back and regret not working hard enough. I am very proud to say now that I am currently a senior with 7 language credits, I am a straight A student beside one C in AP calculus, and I am in the top 10% of my class. At the end of my junior year I was brain storming thoughts for my essay topics and the same idea just couldn’t leave my mind. My disabilities have had a huge impact on my education and who I am today. It has had a positive effect on my life, without it I don’t think I would have ever worked so hard. I did actually already write a rough draft essay on my dyslexia( I didn’t talk about my ADHD just because I wanted to stay focus on just one issue). I tried avoid making it a sob story and more about how it has given me drive and determination(going from the negative mindset to positive). I also talked about that everyone has as struggle but it is how you rise up out of the adversity that matters. But now I saw online that people are saying it is not good to write about a disability especially in my main essay. They are saying that if you really want to disclose that then to put it in the additional essay on common app. I do want colleges to know that about me when looking at my application because I am so proud of what I have accomplished with that. But if it negatively going to impact my application I want to know because I am applying some reach schools. I really want some honest feedback.

My daughter has a disability and faced this dilemma. She did end up touching on her disability in her essay in an indirect, metaphorical way. Her essay was not about her disability but rather about something else in her life that made up for the limits of her disability. It was light touch on the disability but it was there. It was also very natural and organic the way it was incorporated.

Things worked out just fine for her. I think if you can do it the right way it’s fine. She did have her guidance counselor take a look before she submitted.

Best of luck

It is up to you. Just keep in mind that you want the essay 1) to let the admissions officers know something positive about you that isn’t elsewhere in the application and 2) to give admissions officers a reason to want you on campus.

The topic of learning disabilities is done often and how it is written and what it says about you will be more important than the topic itself. If you are unsure, you can write a draft or outline and see how it goes. Be sure to avoid any “poor me” – you don’t want pity from admissions officers, you want to be admitted to college.

Please consider making your posts more readable by using paragraphs.

Although I did not read your entire post, I think that it depends upon how you present your disability in your essay.

As the poster above suggested, have a teacher or guidance counselor/college advisor read it over for a critique.

Again, anything you raise voluntarily can be a part of the decision making process. If your application is securely within the range of admits, mentioning disability opens the possibility that you will be seen as a potential risk in a,competitive environment. If your qualification for admission is on the edge, disability will not help.

Students with disabilities must meet all entrance requirements. After that, it is illegal to consider disability in the admissions decision UNLESS you disclose it voluntarily. Everything volunteered may be considered in the admission decision.

Instead, register with disability services after admission…get your paperwork done before the start of fall semester. If you will wait until fall for accommodations, you will find yourself waiting with other new admits to register for services and even competing for time potentially with students already registered and needing accommodations for their classes.

One comment that stood out to me was that this topic cannot leave your mind. If you keep reflecting on this, then by all means, write about it.

You are a great student who has the advantage of considerable self-reflection prior to completing your essay. This is important to you, it has helped shape you, blah blah blah. :slight_smile:

I agree that your focussing on your dyslexia, but not the ADHD, is the approach to take, because you only have so many words, and you can’t fairly keep the focus on what you’re trying to say about yourself. Your resilience and motivation are impressive.

Best of luck to you!