Hi, I’m planning to transfer to UT, and there’s an option to write a special circumstance essay, and I was very recently diagnosed with ADHD, however I have known i have had it since at least my sophomore year of high school, but my parents refused to allow me to see a psychiatrist because i had good grades and they thought i just wanted to do drugs (despite never having done drugs in my life) and it’s effects have been obvious on my relationships and even my class work to some extent. I recently started taking medication for it and have already seen immediate positive differences in my self control and studying habits (it was very difficult for me to read linearly before and focus on studying before.). That being said, i do already have a great GPA (3.74) and some good extracurriculars (student government, volunteering, internship, president’s honor roll etc.) and essays, and i’m worried that if i bring up my ADHD that it’ll look somewhat overdramatized because of how well my gpa and extracurriculars are and that i’m just trying to bleed it for all it’s worth. I have however dropped two classes and i would consider my ADHD as the main reason (public speaking because of being put on the spot and not being able to focus and speaking extremely fast without control, and a half semester intensive spanish course that I could not keep up with and was too intense and so i wasn’t learning anything and it was causing me to mentally shut down with studying for the class.) all that being said, i really want to write the essay because it has been a very large effect on my life, but i talked to my academic advisor, and he said it might not be in my best interest since so many students claim to have adhd, and rather than setting myself aside from other applicants, it’ll make me blend in more and seem more generic (on that note, i don’t think my professor actually believes me because i have known him for the past year, and he said “he would have never guessed i was adhd,” and he seems to have some prejudices toward millennials and “made up excuses.”) I would just appreciate hearing back advice from anyone, or some experiences some people have had with ADHD and college/transferring.
I would not write the essay on ADHD and not write a special circumstances essay if it’s not required. It is too common of a topic and it’s kind of a “so what?” thing now. So many people have ADHD and there’s nothing you really have to or explain yourself for. I agree with your professor, it does not set yourself apart from other applicants and I cannot see it enhancing your application in a meaningful way. I would focus your essays on a better, more unique topic that’s reflective of you as an individual.
I of course appreciate your advice, however, i’m not writing it to explain me as an individual, i’m writing it more to explain how it has effected my academic work (such as dropping 2 classes.) UT requires 2 transfer essays, a Main “general” essay explaining me and 3 other options that i can choose from. I have narrowed it down to the special circumstance essay, and an essay about an issue that effects my school/community/politics. In your opinion, would it be a good idea to incorporate this into my main essay and do the other optional essay? Again, i feel as if it is important to explain my 2 W’s and how I look at transferring to UT as being a place where i can start on a new leaf, and the already positive effects of being properly medicated has improved my self confidence, attentiveness, and a general will to be more involved in my school community. And again, i appreciate your opinions.
I think you could incorporate it into your main one as it’s own point. That’s a good idea.
OK, for starters, could you please break your text into paragraphs? It’s hard to read as a wall of text.
OK, next: " but i talked to my academic advisor, and he said it might not be in my best interest since so many students claim to have adhd, and rather than setting myself aside from other applicants, it’ll make me blend in more and seem more generic."
You spoke to the person whose entire job is to advise kids like you. He didn’t think it was a good idea.
So why ask random strangers on the internet-- many of who are kids just like you with zero experience?
Read all the threads from other kids here who want to write the exact same essay, and you’ll see why you were advised against it.