<p>I have an urgent problem and I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with such a situation as well as any advice.</p>
<p>My friend is applying to college and recently received a notice from one of her schools that asked her to explain the gap in her educational history. The truth is that she had to take a year off from college for an eating disorder/medical leave where she was in a treatment facility. She came to me to ask her for help with writing the statement, but the problem is I have no experience in doing such a thing and the college won't review any part of her application until she submits her statement. (The overall deadline is in a few days, and she has everything else submitted!)</p>
<p>I was wondering if anyone has had to experience writing a statement about a period of absence in your child's educational history (whether due to a similar reason or else wise). We can't decide whether her essay should be more, well, "flowery" or cut-and-dry (just the facts/dates). How specific should she get? How long should it be? If anyone has an examples they would be willing to share it would be more than appreciated (you can PM them to me as well if you wish not to post them)</p>
<p>HERE IS THE PROMPT/NOTICE THEY SENT HER: "In your education history, you indicated that there was a gap in your enrollment between schools. Please explain to us how you spent your time when you were not enrolled as a student."</p>
<p>Again, thanks so much...I truly appreciate the time and consideration (my friend does too!) </p>
<p>I would just say “During that period of time, I was on a leave of absence from college because of a medical problem.” If the student was able to accomplish anything (e.g., held a part-time job, took an online course, did volunteer work, cared for younger siblings) during that period, it might also be a good idea to add “Although my medical condition precluded full-time study at that time, I did [hold a part-time job in a retail store – or whatever it was] during [three months – or whatever the length was] of that period.”</p>
<p>I wouldn’t suggest lying. If the student indeed took a medical (rather than personal) leave of absence, there are records that show it.</p>
<p>I would add to the above poster’s suggestion IF THIS IS TRUE - During that period of time, I was on a leave of absence from college because of a medical problem from which I am fully recovered. If it is not true then the letter writer should not add “from which I am fully recovered.”</p>
<p>Thanks everyone so much for the advice! I know that her medical leave was documented/authorized, so it will have documents to support it although that is something that I will leave to her family. </p>
<p>Any other suggestions or comments would be helpful (we need all the advice we can get), but I definitely want to extend my sincere thanks for the prompt and helpful responses received.</p>
<p>Do not state what the medical problem was since learning she had an eating disorder may discourage colleges from accepting her for fear she’ll relapse while in college.</p>
<p>It probably would be good if the letter came from the GC, which would help the college realize that the reason was true. Otherwise, the college may fear that the student is lying about a legal problem.</p>
<p>^ I would like to hear others’ views on strategy here. I can’t imagine that the type of illness – requiring a full year off – wouldn’t be of interest to the college. If the applicant does as NSM suggests, won’t the college either (a) come back with a followup question, or (b) simply assume the worst (whatever that is)? Either way, my instinct is that being coy won’t help the applicant’s cause. My instinct would be to descibe the nature of the illness and the treatment, and if possible give some indication of why this won’t likely be a further problem. A couple of sentences, no more, but more forthcoming than NSM suggests.</p>
<p>But I could be talked out of that position. Maybe all the college cares about is learning that the applicant wasn’t in prison, and identifying the illness would be TMI.</p>
<p>Yeah, I would not indicate that there was an eating disorder or any kind of mental illness. I agree with Northstarmom – that is a risk for colleges, that something would happen (or, you know, mentally unstable student, Virginia Tech…I am NOT saying that would happen, but I think revealing stuff like that can make colleges wary). I would just say that it is a medical issue, she took appropriate time to deal with it, and is now fully recovered.</p>
<p>Well, it appears we do have a disagreement. ;)</p>
<p>I’d rather let them know about a disease that in two of it’s DSM categories, specifically </p>
<p>
than to have them wondering . (But then again, I’m not ashamed that I’m diagnosed with depression and have been medicated since my teens. I yam what I yam. ;))</p>
<p>If someone has any statistical evidence of prejudice against kids with eating disorders in a college setting or specifically college admissions, I’d like to hear it. (Anecdotes are welcome as long as we realize there are probably contradictory ones out there, too.)</p>
<p>At my D’s school it appears to be fairly common (or least “not rare”) for a kid to be referred out for eating disorders. </p>
<p>Pick your poison. Unexplained year-long plague or eating disorder. I’ll take the kid behind door #2. ;)</p>
<p>Edit: BTW, I don’t recall the VT kid having an eating disorder. </p>
<p>This idea that we hide certain treatable illnesses is not something good for our society IMO. It just produces shame and delays treatment. As always, just my opinion.</p>
<p>If you don’t tell them the nature of your health problem, they might wonder if it was a drug rehab problem–and that would bring to their minds a whole host of concerns. I’m with Curm on this one. Just say what it is, tell them you’re recovered, and move on.</p>
<p>There is a college adcom that has posted on the subject. I’m sure you can find the thread using the search function here. What he wrote jibed with my experience as an adcom at an ivy thirty years ago. Any substantial issue that can be classified in the category of mental illness causes a college to reject. There is no such thing as fully recovered for most with this diagnosis, and as adcom are not doctors, they don’t attempt to parse, their job is to avoid potential problems, and drains on the school’s mental health resources, which are seriously taxed these days.</p>
<p>And I will offer the anecdotal “evidence” of a good friend’s high achieving daughter who “vacationed” in high school at a nice nationally known “spa” . Didn’t hurt her admissions a whit (and it was disclosed and talked about. As I remember it was required because of a discussion of “ranking”. I believe the kid wasn’t ranked or wasn’t ranked as highly or some-such because of the missed time.) Doctor Blanky, M.D. is doing just fine. (Just had her first child!)</p>
<p>Admittedly a few years ago. Not thirty, but a few. Thirty years ago with the neanderthal attitudes that prevailed? I can see it happening. Not so much today.</p>
<p>Since the gap was not explained in some way in the original application, the school already has the idea that you are trying to hide something. To not tell them what is going on, but making them ask a further question about the nature of the illness, is sure to raise the radar screen.</p>
<p>We are not talking about a kid who wants to use “How I overcame my eating disorder and met Calista Flockhart.” as her main essay. We’d all counsel “No”. At least, I know I would.</p>
<p>THIS school knows something is up with THIS kid. They have asked for an explanation. To be less than forthright and leave them guessing as to the nature of the illness? Not a good option IMO. Lots of things worse than admitting to a treated eating disorder. Their imagination might run wild.</p>
<p>I asked a similar question for my dd and was also told not to disclose. My dd, though, I think was very wise. She said I don’t want to go to a school that doesn’t want me because of my illness. My dd is bipolar and missed a ton of school. It had to have some explanation because her transcript does not look normal. She completely disclosed to all of her colleges. She did it in a factual way and not a making excuses way. She was accepted at all 5 of her colleges. I think it was a very good move on her part.</p>
<p>I think that regardless of the illness, it is not their business and no one needs to disclose details – whether it’s an eating disorder or a heart transplant. It’s just not their business to know more than the fact that she took time off for health reasons. They want to know why she took time off – whether it was to see the world, to contemplate her navel or because she was sick. It’s a legitimate question to ask, given all the possibilities, but her personal health history is not something she has to disclose.</p>