I have never been diagnosed by a professional but it was pretty obvious to people around me that for most of junior year I’ve been struggling with clinical depression. It’s really dropped my grades this year and I haven’t done any extracurriculars. I’ve even failed a class.
My counselor says that I should include a reason on my application explaining this drop, but I’m not sure if that would be a good idea. I’m getting better now, but it’s too late to really make any change in my transcript and it wouldn’t erase the failed class.
I’m trying my best to do what I can now, but would it help if I could explain myself through the additional information box and my essays?
Thanks!
Go see a regular doctor and get a checkup.
+1. It would not be a good idea. If you treated the depression, overcame it, and improved your grades you might mention it.
Yes and no. If you merely mentioned your depression as an excuse for why you aren’t achieving at the expected standard then using it would probably do nothing. If you spun it and demonstrated that it something you had to overcome or could overcome on the future it might help. Either way if your grades are too bad the mention of depression won’t help at all, but if you talk about how it is something you had to overcome or somehow made to a better person/student then it might be a great idea to include it. Hope you feel better! 
You could be vague and refer to it as “health problems”
I think it would hurt. Rather than treat the problem by going for professional diagnosis and treatment, you tried to overcome your self-diagnosed depression on your own, not relying on professionals to help. That is NOT what a university wants to hear. It would be a red flag for them. It is a challenge for universities to set up programs to help students suffering from a range of health issues. But they cannot help those who refuse to seek help. They would categorize you as that kind of student, which would make you risk.
First I agree with the poster who said you need a physical. There are clinical reasons for depression such as low thyroid that your physician can diagnose. You are MUCH better off having a physical reason for the problems.
Being vague and saying health problems that have been resolved and are unlikely to recur is probably ok. Just make sure your GC will back you up.
If you explain that depression is the reason for poor grades you flag yourself as a risky admission, plus they might wonder why you haven’t sought treatment. Best to leave it out.
I was in the same situation as you. In my sophomore year, my grades absolutely tanked due to emotional distress regarding my relative’s death two days before the semester started (I got more B’s than usual, but nothing else). I didn’t want to seek outside physical help despite my counselor’s warnings that I needed help (stigma attached to it, honor to the family, blah blah blah). So yes, a depression diagnosis has been looming over my head for the past few years. I actually improved significantly in my junior year, but never once did my recommenders or I ever mention the word “depression” in ANY part of my college application. I was never formally diagnosed, so I had no right to put it there for the time being. Instead, I talked about how much my relative meant to me (he was one of my main inspirations for becoming a doctor, and when he died I didn’t know what to do), and how my parent’s frequent trips back to their home country only magnified the intensity of the situation back home (in the additional info section). I talked about how I tried to make the best of my situation, and I focused a little less on schoolwork to repair my own emotional well-being.
Bottom line is, unless you’ve been formally diagnosed, do NOT mention the word “depression” anywhere on your application. Don’t sound like you’re trying to make excuses either. Instead, have your GC/recommender talk about how it was a one time thing (which depression really isn’t, and you don’t need to be affected to know that) and how you’ve been improving.
You have no idea if it will recur or not. But I agree that just saying that health problems affected your grades is good, specifically mentioning depression is not. That said, assume that your match colleges are based on what your test scores and grades ARE, not what you think they would be without that issue. Schools likely will not give much weight to your statement.
I actually have the SAME exact problem, and what I learned from responders on my thread/asking around is it is best to not mention it-- mentioning depression may lead to (unfortunately) stigmas as well as maltreatment (even more expensive health care).
However, to those that responded above: how do you just brush it off simply as “health issues?” Isn’t that extremely vague?
(May I ask my questions here too? Sorry about hijacking your thread but responses to this may help you!)
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/1868271-should-i-mention-blips-in-my-grade-record.html#latest
I recently just won a somewhat significant award on suicide prevention, but I still haven’t “come out” about my struggles. Do you guys think it is a good idea to mention that I’m somewhat depressed, or still no?
Do you have to be specific about health issues? I think it’d be weirder to overdisclose: “I missed a bunch of school sophomore year due to a strange rash on my left buttock, the origin of which my doctor could not discern.”
@bodangles Wouldn’t being broad be strange too? I don’t know, guess it depends on how well you write…
It all depends on how well you write. They may or may not wonder and if it was something without stigma you would probably just say, I broke my arm and could not write for 6 months which made it hard to take notes or do math problems and my grades suffered even a buttock rash could be detailed in "I had rash which distracted me and prevented me from concentrating or something (without mentioning the buttock part). Legally they may not be allowed to ask, I am not sure.
@drakonus NO! If you can frame the sucide prevention award in terms of others, I was inspired by my cousin’s struggle or something (assuming that is true) then it is ok, if it is in terms of your struggle, no sorry but kudos for the award.
Thanks for the responses everyone! I’ll probably just leave it out.
@drakonus
I hope your situation improves. It’s understandable but still really unfortunate that there’s such a negative stigma attached to mental illness.