Is it bad to talk about anxiety in college essays?

Conventional wisdom would caution students against discussing mental health issues in their applications. College essay consultants have discouraged students choosing it as a topic in the past. However, we also encourage students to be bold, speak their truth, and stand out from the crowd.

Can you talk about anxiety in a college essay?

If a student feels that they must discuss their mental health, they should do so in the “Additional Information” section of the college application, not the Personal Statement. Depending on the application, students may also want to attach a note from a psychiatrist or therapist.

Should I write about my OCD in my college essay?

If you are struggling with a mental condition, like OCD, for example, and it's still something that actively gives you a lot of trouble, it may not be a topic you want to write about. This doesn't mean you shouldn't show any weakness in your college essays.

How does anxiety impact college students?

“When your mood state interferes with your ability to function at school,” Hutchinson says, “like when you're finding you can't get to class, and you don't want to hang out with your friends or teammates, and you're having difficulty concentrating because you're feeling so distressed—that's when we want to reach out ...

Can you talk about addiction in college essays?

Likewise, if a story of addiction and recovery is an essential part of your past, it may be a worthy topic. However, students should never mention the casual use of drugs or alcohol. The same goes for any illegal acts. It sounds obvious enough, but you'd be surprised!

Should You Talk About Mental Health in Your College Essays?

Is mental health a bad college essay topic?

It's ok to talk about how your mental health and how it affected your grades, but make sure to end on a positive, like “I'm much better at time management, study skills, and organization than I was,” or something of the sort. They're looking for students who have faced adversity and have survived.

Is it okay to mention mental health in college essay?

If you decide to include your mental health or disability history in your application, there are specific aspects of your experience that you should focus on. Rather than talking about the mental illness itself, focus more on the recovery and management aspects and what you have learned from the experience.

What percent of college students suffer from anxiety?

It found that 44% of students reported symptoms of depression, 37% reported anxiety disorders and 15% reported having seriously considered suicide in the past year—the highest recorded rates in the history of the 15-year-old survey.

What percentage of college students deal with anxiety?

While anxiety is a common and normal reaction to stress, anxiety disorders can disrupt students' daily lives. 35% of students said they had been diagnosed with anxiety. 34% of all students surveyed said anxiety negatively impacted their performance in class during the last 12 months.

How common is anxiety among college students?

The 2018 National College Health Assessment survey conducted by the American College Health Association (2018), which surveyed over 88,000 college students in America, found that more than half of the students (63.40 %) experienced overwhelming anxiety at some point in their last twelve months.

What is inappropriate to write about in a college essay?

Avoid topics that are: Overly personal (e.g. graphic details of illness or injury, romantic or sexual relationships) Not personal enough (e.g. broad solutions to world problems, inspiring people or things) Too negative (e.g. an in-depth look at your flaws, put-downs of others, criticizing the need for a college essay)

Should I talk about my ADHD in my college essay?

You might opt to put information about your ADHD (or any other health or mental health situations) in the additional information section so that admissions officers are still aware of your experiences but you still have the flexibility to write your personal statement on whatever topic you choose.

Should you write about ADHD in college essays?

The decision whether to disclose your ADHD during the admissions process is yours to make. Disclosing one's disability and how it may have had an impact on the student's grades or coursework might allow admissions counselors to view less competitive information differently once they understand the impact of ADHD.

Do colleges look at mental health?

No, colleges do not have access to your medical records, including diagnoses of mental health conditions, while reviewing applications prior to admission decisions being made.

Do colleges look at mental health records?

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 write my college essay on social anxiety?

While the Common App essay is not the place to talk about your struggle with anxiety, you should still disclose it to schools. The application has a space for “additional information” that was made just for issues like this one.

What college major has the highest rate of depression?

Those in the visual arts — like painters, designers, photographers and so on — had the strongest link to mental illness. “…the association with mental illness was strongest for core creative subjects, especially for visual arts.

What is the most common cause of anxiety to college students?

College students face many new challenges. Often for the first time, they're living away from their families and communities. They're suddenly presented with new surroundings, social situations, and a heavy academic workload. Very often these new challenges can feel overwhelming, leading to depression or anxiety.

What is the most common mental illness found in students?

The most common mental illnesses in adolescents are anxiety, mood, attention, and behavior disorders. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in young people aged 15–24 years.

What is the leading cause of death in college students?

In 202 responding institutions providing information on 327 deaths over 10 years, the five leading causes by proportion were accidents (26.3%), suicide (8.0%), heart and circulatory diseases (7.7%), pneumonia (7.3%) and tuberculosis (6.4%).

Which country has the most stressed students?

The United States ranks first as the country with the most stressed students.

Is anxiety considered a disability?

Yes, anxiety can be considered a disability for work. 2016 research suggests that anxiety disorders can negatively impact your life and are linked to severe disability for some people. Anxiety and depression are supported in the research literature as one of the top reasons for permanent disability.

Is it OK to write a sad college essay?

If your "sad" topic is truly significant to your life and has shaped your character or values, then it might be a strong choice. However, be mindful of the following considerations: 1. Avoid writing a sob story: Your essay should not be an attempt to gain sympathy from the admissions officers.

Can you write a sad college essay?

Students should not tell a sad or harrowing story simply for the sake of its shock value or emotional impact—a strong essay is forward-thinking and deliberate, showing admissions committees who a student is and what they will contribute to the college's campus.

How long should a college essay be?

If your institution doesn't provide a specific word count, it's best to keep your essay between the length established by the longer college admissions essay format: 250 to 650 words. Word count is just one factor to consider as you craft your college admissions essay.