Hi everyone. I’ve seen it constantly repeated that mental illness should be avoided in college essays, and I usually agree with this. However, I’ve been very drawn to the idea of writing about my phobia (of big, open rooms. It’s silly, I know.) in my essay, as I feel that it played an integral role in my life and influenced my identity pretty significantly. I was thinking about using it to talk about how I realized the value of asking for help when necessary. Otherwise, I might talk about how it made me a stronger person, and that most other challenges seem a lot less difficult when I compare them with overcoming my phobia. I want to keep the tone fairly light and put some humor into it. If I try to stay away from being too negative and whiny, does this seem like a good idea? Or should I pick a new topic altogether?
What is your objective?
Do u just want to vent and possibly appear neurotic, or do u want to be admitted?
I don’t think it’s as bad as mental illness. It depends how it’s written of course.
Is it a recognized phobia?
Thanks DrGoogle, I would obviously have to pull it off well. I just wanted to make sure that the idea wasn’t inherently bad.
JustOneDad, there is information online about the phobia, and many others who have it. It is not yet officially recognized, though, since it is so rare. Will this hurt the essay or my credibility?
As real and as important as this seems to you, you have to realize the college essay is for adcoms reviewing your fit at their college. Not just folks reading it for interest. It’s not just a hs essay, where the teacher might like your insight. How do you think adcoms will react, considering the number of big, open rooms on campus? This is for college admissions. Make a wise choice.
That is true. Thank you.
I wrote about the mental issues I had in high school for my college essay - surprisingly I was able to get into my second choice UC because of it. At first I was also very cautious about the idea of including that in such an important part of my application, but I realized that there was no other way for me to really convey my life experience without it.
However, lookingforward has a point. Be careful about it, only use topics that you can use to a sustainable extent.
I’m glad it worked for you, Aikurah. I guess it really depends on how I actually write the paper. I’m still going to try to think of a way to make it work, but I’m also going to try another topic.
Does the birth of a sibling seem like a very common/cliche topic?
Unless u were old enough to remember it, it’s reaching too far back.
I was thirteen. Maybe the large age difference will make it a bit more interesting?