USNews: Should I Mention Depression on My College Application?

Applying to College
21

<p>I've been doing poorly in school in 9th and 10th grade and I was pretty antisocial in terms of behavior. I was always an intelligent kid but the thing all got out of control when I got kicked out of two schools this year.</p>

<p>I'm homeschooled now, I get straight As, I get 5s on APs, and I have a 2070 SAT. Do I have a chance at the University of Florida or maybe University of Central Florida. I didn't realize that this would be such a big problem unless I can do something about my records.</p>

22

<p>I didn't outright mention depression in my college essay when I first applied to college (I'm transferring out of my current one) but I definitely hinted at it :/ I was afraid of the stigma as well so I tried not to give a name to the issue but I did talk about how I overcame it and all that sort of thing :/ It didn't hurt me in the process; I got in almost everywhere I applied.</p>

23

<p>This stigma is not exclusive to colleges - adults in the workplace have problems with this too. It is in general not considered a good career move to admit to depression, bipolar or some of the other mental illnesses with which it is possible to be a highly functioning person.</p>

<p>In the software industry, I've seen a number of people who may be bipolar - it can actually be a real advantage when the person is in the high energy creative state - knocking out that fantastic new web site or product. But I've seen some bad repercussions when the person is in the depressive state, or when s/he explains to management that s/he needs some time off to adjust medications. And depressives have problems at times with motivation and producing, which can lead to management concerns about their reliability. </p>

<p>Let's face it - The norm is still that we're all suppose to be reliable, mildly upbeat and productive at all times, despite the overwhelming reality that very few people are really like that. </p>

<p>My suggestion is that you mention mental health issues if:
1) There are things in your application that need to be explained, such as a dip in grades. If so, focus on the ways that the problem is now under control
2) If you need special accomdations, such as room with private bath because of OCD, or testing accomodations because of ADHD, for example
3) If the application specifically asks</p>

<p>But given current attitudes, I wouldn't go out of my way to highlight mental health issues.</p>

<p>However, I would make sure that I was comfortable that I can take on whatever I'm applying for, in light of those issues, getting the input of family, friends or counselors to help me get a reasonable set of second opinions.</p>

24

<p>I have not yet read the article, but apparently some people need to watch A Beautiful Mind and pay special attention to the pen scene.</p>

<p>I wish the ghosts of all of the famous writers, scientists, artists, mathematicians, business leaders, etc. who suffered from mental illness, from around the world and throughout history, could stage a protest on the front lawns of many college admissions offices. We would be FAR less advanced as a species if it we denied a top flight education to some who are mentally ill, as exquisite brilliance and mental illness often go hand in hand.</p>

<p>We like Vincent VanGogh and Sylvia Plath, but we don't think that they deserve to be on a college campus with us?</p>

25

<p>Liist: "Best case scenario, I can get my former school to expunge the records or something of that nature."..."I've been doing poorly in school in 9th and 10th grade and I was pretty antisocial in terms of behavior. I was always an intelligent kid but the thing all got out of control when I got kicked out of two schools this year....I'm homeschooled now, I get straight As, I get 5s on APs, and I have a 2070 SAT. Do I have a chance at the University of Florida or maybe University of Central Florida. I didn't realize that this would be such a big problem unless I can do something about my records"</p>

<p>If you search the word "suspension" or "expulsion" on CC you will come across some articles written by admissions people on how to handle getting into schools after such mistakes. One mentions how it is quite common for adcoms to receive anonymous notes describing the truth about certain applicants. An investigation is made depending on the allegation and the outcome will be very bad if the applicant was dishonest about his or her true past. Imagine if the truth emerged a year or two after attending a university and you were expelled yet again after turning your life around? The stress alone worrying about the possibility isn't worth it. Even if a record is "expunged", you need to tell the truth. Besides, it is pretty difficult to hide from two school changes in a year.</p>

<p>It is certainly possible to show that mistakes have been learned from, problems resolved, lemons made into lemonade. Getting past being caught lying on an application is not possible. People will forgive mistakes, but they will not forgive covering up mistakes.</p>

<p>Getting kicked out of two schools in a year is huge. Does it mean your life is ruined? NO! There are MANY successful students and adults who have made mistakes, big ones, and have turned their lives around. Now you are a member of a club, a club filled with human beings who are not perfect and have had to learn from painful mistakes. A lot of people in this club have made brilliant contributions to campuses, business, hospitals, research institutions, museums, etc. </p>

<p>Embrace your new peer group. :-)</p>

<p>You need to know, in a crystal clear sense, why you made the mistakes that you did, where you have been, and how you turned it all around. For real. Take responsibility for any mistakes you have made. Making excuses or justifications is a red flag that a person has not yet learned his lesson, and is not yet finished his personal journey of getting on track, </p>

<p><strong>You do not have to give adcoms every gory detail - you have a right and an obligation to market yourself well. Tread carefully, be honest, SHOW how you have changed in a perceptive, thoughtful, and eloquent fashion, how you are wiser, and how you are a better person because of all you have been through.</strong></p>

<p>As you become more mature and evolved in your personal journey (and believe me, that often has NOTHING to do with chronological age), you will feel very comfortable with who you really are, where you really have been, and what you have learned. You won't want to misrepresent yourself, because those painful mistakes will be the gold that got you to where you are meant to be.</p>

26

<p>Well said, Spideygirl. While a few blots on the record may reduce one's options somewhat, in no way will they prevent getting a great education and college experience.</p>

27

<p>Liist:</p>

<p>One more thing...You have to put whatever you need in place to make sure those negative things stop happening in your life. Seek whatever counsel you need - professional or otherwise. I always recommend that people have an exhaustive neuropsych educational evaluation to get to the bottom, once and for all, of such repeat problems. It will be well worth the money in the long run.</p>

28

<p>It's amazing how many people have responded/viewed the Depression story in such a few time. I guess it reveals something most of us know deep down: the rigor and expectations of society have often broken many able people down.</p>

<p>I myself have been recently battling depression. I suffered a severe dip in my grades but thankfully, my school has been gracious enough to accomodate me since I have always been a high achieving student. I'm still not sure what will happen, but the C's and D's that I have now will hopefully go up. It's really difficult to experience something like this and also have to worry about the wrath of college admissions. There have been succes stories where people have been able to weild their depression favorably in their light. But why would Yale or Harvard bother with an emotionally depressed( albeit recovered) student when they have hordes and hordes of other applicants to fill that spot? It's a bit disheartening because depression is such a struggle. It consumes everything and to lift oneself out of such a situation is really the definition of all those generic "What was your largest obstacle" questions. It's such an emotionally drenched battle and once you're out and you can see the light, the colors, you can't help but WANT to speak about that experience. You can't help but want to vocalize that demonizing struggle- but you can't because there is a huge stigma against it. You're really taking your chances when you write about depression- even if you're a fantastic writer. And with 2009 college admissions about to face the largest and most competetive class ever in history, you can't help but feel that depression has no place in college admissions. It's sad- my depression is generic and many times, I felt that my disorientation, my lack of energy, my hopelessness was something really out of my control. If I had experienced another medical malady like mono or something that would have rendered me just as incapable, it would be seen as acceptable and understood. I can understand the college admissions' perspective but I can't help but feel a bit cheated.</p>

<p>That said, I'm hoping that if I pull up my grades, do well on my SAT's( tomorrow!), my AP's and such, I will succeed. I have a question concerning depression: once you visit a psychiatrist and you have been diagonosed with depression, does it go down on your record? That has been a fear that has kept me from moving forward because in reality, while laws keep the work industry and colleges from legally discriminating against this, in practice it doesn't play out. Do I have a record now? Will colleges see this? Do I HAVE to tell them that I have been diagnosed with depression? I have worked so hard my entire life and I just dont' want this one thing to really take away everything that I have worked for.</p>

29

<p>There are strict HEPA laws which will protect the privacy of your health history. No treatment provider is allowed to discuss or release information about your health without your express, written consent. The issue of mental illness becomes relevant in college admissions when academic, behavioral, or legal records show red flags. No one is required to report their private health history, but many end up doing so in order to justify poor grades, suspensions, expulsions, or legal trouble (and those are things that colleges are allowed to reject you for). Depending on the situation, and how the story is communicated, this disclosure can help or hurt one's chances.</p>

<p>There are anti-discrimination laws as well, as mental illness is a disability, but somehow people who are mentally ill still suffer from much discrimination.</p>

30

<p>If you see a doctor or other counselor for a mental health problem, the colleges have no access to that information. There are strict laws that prohibit disclosure, just as if you had a broken leg, a serious illness such as cancer, or any other medical condition. </p>

<p>There are a handful of exceptions about any form of disclosure, depending on the state that you live in, and whether you are a minor. These have to do with possibly informing your parents or authorities of certain critical and urgent issues, such you being suicidal or homicidal. A million details to this, but really there are very stringent rules around disclosure.</p>

<p>This is both a good thing and a bad thing. It's a good thing because it protects your privacy, and a bad thing , when, in a very few cases it means that someone who is desperately ill slips through the system and injures himself or others.</p>

31

<p>we know of a student who had a restraining order put on him in hs because he was making threatening acts to a girl - he some kind of mental disorder, btw - and I learned that he was considering the same college as my daughter, a very small 1200 student college where everyone wd know everyone very quickly. I assume he did not put that bit about the restraining order in his application. I never did mention this to the college, but the thought occurred to me.</p>

<p>I hope he picked another college.</p>

32

<p>A restraining order has a public legal record, and not something that can be easily hidden from those who wish to look for it.</p>

33

<p>
[quote]
I knew people in college with a wide range of mental illnesses - clinical depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, various forms of OCD, and more. Mostly terrific people, good students, and hard workers.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>But this article is about students using their mental illness as an excuse for poor grades. Why else would you mention a mental illness in an application? </p>

<p>BTW, I think (in most cases) you have to be a moron to admit this on a college application. The purpose of creating an excuse would be to show that it was an isolated event (or period of time) and admitting to having a mental illness will often convey the opposite (ie a continual problem...why won't you perform similiarly in the future? etc)</p>

34

<p>Well, if you look at the cons...I would not put it down. Like everyone else said, it's pretty common. But I certainly don't think those who does put it in their application should get rejected. It's "depression" not mentally illed that you need to be hospitalized. After all people have emotions and it's ok to be blue sometimes..</p>

35

<p>I never disclosed my clinical depression diagnosis on my college applications, which was probably a mistake, because it definitely affected my grades freshman year. I thought a lot about writing an essay on how and why I stopped self-injuring, but I couldn't make myself do it for a number of reasons, and one of them was definitely that I feared being seen as "the crazy girl." Bear in mind that I applied to college the fall after the Virginia Tech shootings, and I was scared that I would be seen as a similar risk.</p>

<p>I don't know what to say about it. I feel like I might have been accepted to more places if I'd given a full explanation for those three B's and one C freshman year, but I also feel that said explanation might have scared some adcoms away.</p>

36

<p>spidey said--

[quote]
A restraining order has a public legal record, and not something that can be easily hidden from those who wish to look for it.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>does anyone know if colleges normally look for this kind of stuff (items of public record, a restraining order, for example)?</p>

<p>In other words, does college admissions usually do a 'background check' for such public record items, or do they rely on the word on the sign app?</p>

37

<p>I think it depends on the situation. With so many applicants, how could they ever research each one? On the other hand, if there is a red flag of any sort they might just start digging. There is always the possibility of someone sending in an anonymous note as well.</p>

38

<p>My good friend wrote about her long battle with bulimia for one of her college essays and got 10k a year to the school (granted, it wasn't HPY or anything but still a good school).</p>

39

<p>that is true - so many applicants. No way are they going to do a background ck on each applicant unless there is a specific reason noted on the app to do so. The case I am talking about - a restraining order because of some sort of dangerous obsession with a girl - I bet there wd be nothing noted.</p>

<p>I bet colleges just rely on the signature "I swear this is all true" - no felonies etc.</p>

40

<p>There is no point in telling schools about your depression if it didn't affect your grades. Yes, it is hard dealing with depression, but other people have problems, too. When those problems inhibit your ability to succeed, then you should explain that. But, to me, telling schools you are clinically depressed when it had no affect on your accomplisments, grades, or extra curriculars is just a way to try to make yourself a better applicant. I have a ****ty home situation and its really hard to be at home, but I didn't tell colleges about that. My home situation was completely seperate from the rest of my life, and I didn't want to be like "my life sucks but I deal with it, aren't I great". Everyone has problems, whether they are defined clincally or not. Using your problem for personal gains is just selfish.</p>