<p>Hi everyone,</p>
<p>I have recently started filling out the common app. One of the prompts for the essay is listed below: </p>
<p>"Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story."</p>
<p>I feel incredibly compelled to write about my history with anorexia, depression, and anxiety. I have been in treatment for about a year and have improved so much. My struggles have shaped me into who I am today, and have dictated which profession I hope to have in the future (I'll be majoring in psych, hoping to get my Doctorate eventually). </p>
<p>However, I don't know if this is too risky to write about. I plan on applying to several schools, but my dream schools are Columbia University and Brown University. </p>
<p>An alternative writing topic could be my dual-enroll program which I have participated in for the past 2 years. Instead of taking high school courses, my junior and senior years have been entirely at a local university. Because of this, I will earn my associate degree by the end of this fall. I feel like this experience has truly shaped my studying skills and has exposed to me a variety of ideas. </p>
<p>I also don't know if this would be inappropriate to write about. </p>
<p>Basically, my question is... are either of these essay ideas appropriate? And if so, which would be the more compelling essay? </p>
<p>Thanks so much! </p>
<p>Abbey</p>
<p>I have the same problem.
I want to know if this is appropriate</p>
<p>Mom here of child who struggled a bit in high school and was treated.</p>
<p>My daughter did not have a big desire to write about her treatment. However, I probably would have discouraged it. You never know who is reading your essays, nor do you know their experiences or prejudices. I would never encourage anyone to write about anything that could point out a problem. Today’s colleges are concerned about behavior issues. </p>
<p>I am sure others will disagree with me, but why point out something that could be perceived as a problem?</p>
<p>I understand how it would be perceived as a problem if I were to simply discuss my battle with my mental illness, but I would see recovery as a positive thing. Am I wrong to think that recovery could be looked at in a positive light?</p>
<p>This is my opinion only. However, mental illness often recurs or is ongoing. I am just not in favor of pointing out things that can be perceived differently. My kids had few problems and struggled with those essays about overcoming adversity, but I think you walk a fine line. </p>
<p>It might work beautifully. It might not. Is it worth the risk? </p>
<p>What you might do is talk about overcoming something specific without mentioning the anxiety or depression. For example, you might write about something that triggers your anxiety, like public speaking, and discuss how you have overcome your fear. You can do that without getting specific. </p>
<p>Think of how you would treat another medical issue, like a broken bone. You would not talk about getting the caste and surgery to repair it, you would discuss what you had to do to move on with what you needed to do
( these ideas were from my daughter).</p>
<p>I wish you the best.</p>
<p>Although the recovery you are going through is huge and a huge positive, it is just too risky. I wouldn’t recommend it. One year is just not that long. </p>
<p>I will say that students do write about this. Here is a link to an exceptionally well written essay. The student was accepted to 8 selective colleges and goes to Bard. I will note that he was Valedictorian of his class with a 1490 M+CR, and that his illness had been resolved for several years.
[Morning</a> Edition - College Essays](<a href=“http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/2001/mar/010326.clayton_kennedy.html]Morning”>Morning Edition - College Essays)</p>
<p>The dual enrollemnt topic may be too pedestrial, imo. They can see that you did that on your transcripts. If you can truly talk about the benefits it brought, give it a shot. Be sure to highlight the personal qualities you brought to the table, and took from the experience. Give it a shot and see how it works out.</p>
<p>I would say, even though you making great progress (kudos to you!), this is one of those topics that is very risky and will polarize readers. It may polarize them in your favor, but it may swing the other way. Colleges these days realize they are walking a fine line when it comes to health issues, especially mental health issues. There have been lawsuits in the past about how colleges handle students with eating disorders, which will make some schools potentially read your essay in a negative light.</p>
<p>With the dual-enrollment, can you come up with a specific experience that changed you considerably that you would not have had if you had stayed in a traditional high school? Just writing about dual enrollment overall isn’t riveting, but a specific turning point, an “ah-ha” moment, will grab the reader much better. Is there a situation where you felt for the first time you held your own in the classroom against people older/more experienced than you? You want to draw the reader in to share the experience with you, not just tell them about your educational experiences.</p>