<p>Just for background info, I developed an eating disorder toward the end of freshman year and received treatment for it during the summer after sophomore year. I am now a junior and I still struggle with my demons, but I can proudly say my eating disorder no longer strongly interferes with other areas of my life. During sophomore year, when I was deepest in my struggle with bulimia, my grades slipped--I earned a 4.2 weighted GPA freshman year and a 3.8 weighted GPA sophomore year. This year my weighted GPA is in the 4.3-4.5 range.</p>
<p>My question is whether it would be a good idea to write about my struggle with bulimia in college essays. Not only would I be able to write a great essay about a topic I have deep feelings about, but I would also be able to explain why my grades slipped sophomore year. I by no means think an eating disorder can be used as an excuse but I do think it is reasonable to be able to explain myself to colleges.</p>
<p>I understand that a cliche essay about an eating disorder would not be a good idea ("so then I got better and I love myself now!!!!"). However, I really think I could explain a lot about what I've learned from my battle with the disorder and I would explain that while I still have to confront the disorder on a day to day basis, I am confident that I am strong enough to beat a relapse.</p>
<p>I worry that colleges will read the essay, and no matter how well written it may be, will worry about admitting me and having an ill student on their campus. </p>
<p>Yeah, I think it'll be fine, as long as you present it creatively. Colleges probably get tired of boring, cliched essays on eating disorders, but that would make an original essay on the same topic stand out more.</p>
<p>No, do not write about it. It may be a great topic and potentially a great essay, but with so many good students there is no need for them to have to deal with a student with a eating disorder. A school can't discriminate, but they may see your illness a big liability on them because you could have a relapse in college due to stress. If you were my kid, I would tell you not to mention it.</p>
<p>"With so many good students there is no need for them to have to deal with a student with a (sic by the way) eating disorder"....?</p>
<p>Colleges can't deny that there are problems with eating disorders on pretty much any campus in the United States, whether it be Northeastern Illinois or Princeton. ESPECIALLY at more prestigious, higher pressure schools, eating disorders are rampant. The way you say "dealing with" a student with an eating disorder is not only offensive to anyone with this disease but also is ignorant of the number of students on college campuses with eating disorders. At Dartmouth, in fact, the website states that eating disorders have been a problem at the school and that Dartmouth has created support services for such students. I don't think colleges (especially more prestigious ones) would turn you down for being honest and insightful about your struggles with bulimia.</p>
<p>My daughter's private school is "dealing" with a girl with eating disorder in 8th grade(my younger daughter's grade). The girl has been in and out of the hospital all year. The school has been very good about it and the whole class has been very involved one way or another. You are "dealing with" eating disorder just like you would be "dealing with" cancer or any other illness. What is offensive about it? You don't have a choice to deal with it when it happens, but if you had a choice would you not choose not to have to deal with it?</p>
<p>Getting into college is a campaign, it is a complete marketing of one self. Full disclosure has nothing to do with it, offensive or not.</p>
<p>Oh, the girl is not coming back to the school next year because the parents felt the school may be too competitive and too stressful for their daughter. It is exactly as baconloretta has stated that many of those top tier schools have students with eating disorder because of high pressure. Don't you think adcoms would want to admit students that could thrive and handle the pressure? I am also in no way implying that OP or anyone who has had eating disorder would not be able to handle pressure or stress ever again, but some adcoms may jump into conclusion that past would predict the future.</p>
<p>Both of my girls are dancers, it is something we are constantly watching out for. It is not my intent to offend anyone, and do not appreciate baconloretta to paint it as such.</p>
<p>there was a HUGE thread about this same thing about a year ago (though the mental "disorder" may have been a little different). if you could find it, it has about 60+ pages of conversation about the posatives and negatives of writing about such a situation.</p>
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No, do not write about it. It may be a great topic and potentially a great essay, but with so many good students there is no need for them to have to deal with a student with a eating disorder. A school can't discriminate, but they may see your illness a big liability on them because you could have a relapse in college due to stress. If you were my kid, I would tell you not to mention it.
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<p>If you were my kid, I would say the same thing. I would bet you can come up with a lot of other great ideas for essays.</p>
<p>But how would I be able to explain a dip in grades without mentioning the disorder that consumed most of my time, energy and thoughts for more than a year?</p>
<p>Coordinate this with your GC. You wouldn't want not to say anything and have your GC mention it in your recommendation letter. I personally don't think your grades were that bad. The dip happened sophmore year and you pull it back up later.</p>