If you are going to discuss your depression, anxiety, or other mental condition in your application, do so in a
strategic manner for
the purpose of illuminating otherwise unexplained inconsistencies in your academic record.
Is depression a bad college essay topic?
No
! The point of the essay is to make them WANT you on campus. The point of the essay is to get admissions to say “yes, that person adds some spark or special interest to our student body”. … But it isn't a great topic for admissions.
Can I write my college essay about mental illness?
Recently, I've noticed a concerning uptick in the number of students asking whether it's appropriate for them to write about mental health issues, most frequently ADD and/or anxiety, in their college applications. … So the short answer:
don't do it.
What should you not talk about in a college essay?
- Résumé of your life and achievements. …
- Sports injury, challenge, or success. …
- Immigrant story. …
- Tragedy – death, divorce, abuse. …
- Working hard in a challenging class. …
- Someone you admire (a person you know or historical figure) …
- Volunteer trip.
Should I write about depression in my college essay?
All counselors interviewed for this piece agreed that students' college essays
should not be about their struggles with
mental health. … Vinik says that mental health problems should only be shared in the essay if the college would not be able to understand the applicant without knowing about this part of her.
Do colleges look at mental health records?
Instead, college students' health records fall under the Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act
, which gives parents the right to inspect their children's records at an educational institution. … Universities walk a fine line when providing that treatment or mental-health services to students.
Do colleges like unique essays?
Be honest and genuine, and your unique qualities will shine through. Admissions officers have to read an unbelievable number of college essays, most of which are forgettable. … Colleges are simply looking for thoughtful, motivated students who will add something to the first-year class. Score a 1400 SAT.
Is it okay to talk about suicide in a college essay?
Yes
. Especially the part about you attempting it multiple times. Colleges don't want the liability risk. The sentence maybe impactful, but remember the OBJECTIVE of the essay– it's not for personal catharsis.
What is a good topic for a college essay?
Some of those cliches include: a sports injury, person you
admire, tragedy
, or working hard in a challenging class. While it's possible to write a good essay on a common topic, it's much harder to do so, and you may lose the admissions officer's attention early on.
Do college applications ask about mental health?
For starters, it is important to know that it is actually illegal for a college to specifically ask for these types of details about your life, since doing so can be considered discrimination. Based on this reason alone,
you are never required to disclose mental or physical
health concerns on your application.
Can I swear in college essays?
As expressed in an article of “The Daily Beast,”
don't use profanities in your college essays
. It's a major mistake. … Otherwise, he would have gotten in.” If cursing didn't take the cake, another Ivy League admissions counselor said this about an essay: “We had one great line.
Is it bad to swear in a college essay?
Okay, Taboo #1: Using curse words in your college essay
Generally speaking, the language in your admissions essay should land somewhere in the realm of polished conversation. Pretend you are talking to a teacher who knows you well. That's the level of comfort you're aiming for.
Can I make up a story for my college essay?
You can write about pretty much anything – an experience, an inanimate object, a movie, a place, a person – as long as your essay reveals how that experience, thing, movie, place, or person made an impact on you.
Do colleges really read essays?
Usually one to two admissions officers read an essay.
Some colleges do not look at essays
. Some colleges will choose only to look at your GPA, Course Rigor and SAT/ACT scores. If you GPA and Test Scores are high enough, they may not feel that and essay is necessary.
What colleges are looking for in essays?
Admissions officers look for students whose essays reveal their character and perspective through their real experiences, not contrived situations. Admissions officers say most essays they read are safe, generic and do nothing to make them remember or want to advocate for the students who wrote them.
Should you title college essays?
Every college essay needs a title
because it's a piece of creative writing, but by no means does it have to be something you spend days stressing out about. … In most cases, we suggest writing your essay before you lock in a title.
