<p>Sorry for double posting. I'm just not sure college admissions was the best place to look for essay advice, so I'm posting here too. </p>
<p>When I was 6 years old I was diagnosed with moderate complex-partial epilepsy. I was very, very precocious when I was little. I could read fluently at 3, touch type 60 words per minute at 4, etc. When I was 7 I went on the highest allowable doses of two epilepsy medications (which also function as psychiatric drugs, so they are really heavy duty). My intelligence literally dropped to average level and school became really, really hard for me until 3 years after I went off the medicine (in 6th grade) because I fell so far behind and had A LOT of catching up to do. I've outgrown epilepsy now and my intellectual capacity is back to wear it used to be, but I think the fact that I know what it is like to struggle intellectually and academically is unique and has shaped my life. Some highly intelligent people have little or no sympathy for people with intellectual/academic problems. They might just see them as lazy or dumb or something else similar. </p>
<p>I've written other essays, one about winning a sandcastle contest, another about how I love to win radio contests, and one more about my love for WaWa, the convenience store. All of those essays, while interesting and kind of cute, weren't really defining moments or life changing like my experience through epilepsy was. BUT, I worry that colleges think I'm trying to come up with some sob story from back in my childhood that's not even relevant since I've recovered and everything. What do you think? I'm afraid it will sound too dramatic.</p>
<p>From what I know about college essays, I know that college admissions like cute essays like the ones you already wrote. But I do think they should be defining or the admissions won’t get a sense of you. Yes you like Wawa, but did you write it to show what’s under the surface? I think an essay about your illness can be successful, but it can NOT come off as self-pity. You have to find a way to show that, despite your illness, you found strength. If you do that, then I think it can be really really really awesome!</p>
<p>Dude, Wawa. 
:::thumbs up:::</p>
<p>I am having the same problem with the essay, I am autistic and so I hear you about stuff like that. I couldn’t talk until I was 5. So, I was behind for a while, too and know about trying to catch up, it is an ordeal. This kind of thing is just what shapes your whole life, nothing isn’t affected by it. Although the Wawa love would still be there…</p>
<p>The only thing is that my one teacher says that if I look like I’m too hard to teach or like I will be some kind of ordeal (which I am not, I am cool lol) they won’t want me. I don’t want to look that way because I’m not. But I don’t know how I look to other people. Why do adcoms have to be so afraid of disabilities?</p>
<p>I’m definitely not looking for pity. I’m not trying to use this essay to explain poor grades or anything like that. I HONESTLY think going through this has made me a better person. </p>
<p>And kartwheelie, I have heard the same thing. My neighbor wrote about ADD and got rejected from all of the top schools she applied to despite have great grades and test scores. I’m hoping that colleges don’t think epilepsy I’ve outgrown is a burden on them.</p>
<p>It could make a strong and moving essay. But that said, don’t overdo the “sob” part of the story in the essay. I think it could show how far you’ve come, etc. so long as it’s done carefully… have an English teacher read it and ask if it comes off as a sob story or too sentimental, etc. good luck!</p>
<p>Did you read your neighbor’s essay?</p>
<p>I am seriously considering writing about something else, but it’s really hard to do without it sounding like a book report. Maybe I should write about funny stuff and autism. Although the way I write it probably wouldn’t be so funny. (sigh)</p>