<p>I'm currently a junior and for our Lang and Comp class, we are writing essays using the common app prompts, possibly to be used next year. I've written about my mother's severe Bipolar Disorder, something that she has struggled with her entire life, and how it has made me the person I am today, a better person than I would have been otherwise. It has made me a "go-getter" and it's why I care for those around me so much. At the end, I briefly discuss why I am always so motivated, due largely in part to the fear of finding myself like my mother at some point in the future. </p>
<p>Do you think that, even if there's no trace of bitterness or "woe is me", the topic is too taboo for college admissions officers? I consider these events to be central to who I am but I also don't want to sacrifice my chance of getting into a highly selective college because of my essay topic. </p>
<p>I would be happy to send a copy of it to anyone who would like to read it once revisions are finalized in about a week or so. </p>
<p>Speaking as the ex-wife of an extremely bipolar man, you need to be careful that your caring about others also doesn’t come across as enabling. I also can see how this experience has been central to who you are since this envelopes you every moment. I think if you do write this essay you’ll need a lot of feedback from your teacher.</p>
<p>Actually, in my post, I didn’t really explain that part as well as I should have. The part in the essay dealing with this actually talks more about realizing that looking after others has to be balanced with caring for oneself. It doesn’t come across as enabling. </p>
<p>I see what you’re saying, but although the essay centers around it, I don’t spend the whole essay talking about it. But thanks for the advice, I’ll be sure to watch for that. </p>
<p>@Daggs13 You want your essay to be memorable and a positive reflection of yourself. My son’s essay was about his hearing loss and how he overcame adversity. Everyone who read it also cried. He was accepted to every college he applied to.</p>
<p>@GamerGal27 I don’t know how recently he was accepted, but congrats to him. He deserves it after going through what I’m sure was not at all an easy ordeal. I certainly realize that not everyone gets dealt the best hand in life, but those who can overcome that hand deserve everything good that comes to them. Would you mind if at some time in the future I sent the essay to you privately for just a quick impression?</p>
<p>I’ve always thought colleges find essays that concern a medical disorder/disease of a family member to be too cliche; like you’re using (that might be too strong/negative of a word) their life to get into college. Watch out for that.</p>
<p>@normanxi , I can think of no other topic that has shaped me more as a person than growing up under these circumstances. Yes, I could completely glaze over everything that seems remotely cliche, but these things have made me, me. I could always go the path of a more abstract, more unique topic, but I’d be lying if I said that anything mattered more to who I am than this. I see what you are saying, though. Thanks. . </p>
<p>I wrote my Villanova supplement about how having a bipolar twin brother has taught me so much and made me who I am and I just got accepted! I used a little twin humor to bring levity to my essay so it wasn’t too serious because I’m not a really serious person- but honestly I don’t think it’s taboo and even if it is the way you say your essay is written sounds like it’s done in the right way so you’ll stand out in a good way! </p>