Is it OK to talk about depression in a college essay?

So, colleges will never directly ask if you've had any sort of mental health issue or if you've ever had a disability. Based on this reason alone, you are not required to disclose mental or physical health concerns on your application. Disclosing your mental or physical health is strictly a matter of personal choice.

Can you write college essay about depression?

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.

Is it OK to talk about mental health in a college essay?

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.

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.

Should you tell college about mental illness?

These individuals had mixed opinions about whether, and how much, applicants should disclose about their mental health. Neitfield wrote, “Officially, colleges say that students can share as much about their mental health as feels comfortable.

Should You Talk About Mental Health in Your College Essays?

Is mental illness a bad college essay topic?

While colleges are supportive of their students' mental health challenges and provide resources and services, you don't want their first impression of you on your application to be something that makes them uncertain of your abilities. So, keep this in mind when deciding whether to disclose your mental health history.

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.

Do sob story college essays work?

Students need not make up sob stories to improve their cases for admission to elite universities. In fact, we always discourage students from telling sob stories. We don't want students writing about illnesses that they, their parents, or grandparents have faced.

Can I trauma dump on my college essay?

However, students should consider avoiding including traumas in their essays because traumatic moments don't always demonstrate the best aspects of one's personality. “If I was applying to college or any other part of my life, I would not want to feel obligated to be judged on my worst moments,” Henderson said.

Do colleges want a sob story?

In recent years, we've observed many students becoming fixated on discovering or manufacturing a hardship or "sob story" to incorporate into their college applications. Unfortunately, this approach is more likely to result in rejection.

Do colleges look at your mental health?

Colleges are unlikely to look beyond what you submit unless what you submit leads them to investigate further prior to admitting you. A number of responses to your question indicate that colleges do not discriminate against those with mental health issues.

Do colleges care about mental health?

The UC, CSU, and CCC have long recognized the need to provide mental health resources on campus, but have differed in their responses to meet increasing demand due to budget constraints and other factors. For that reason, students' access to mental health services varies depending on the sector and campus.

Is it good to talk about trauma in college essays?

Trauma should not be a deciding factor in college admissions. Students should not need traumatic experiences in their past in order to be competitive applicants, nor should they feel forced to disclose anything that they may have gone through.

What should you not write a college essay about?

Some people think rolling with an inappropriate topic and shocking the admissions committee is a great idea: but it's not. Stay far, far away from anything to do with illegal activity, alcohol, substance use, and anything else following these themes. You don't set yourself up for success using topics like these.

Can depression make you fail college?

Mental health problems can affect a student's energy level, concentration, dependability, mental ability, and optimism, hindering performance. Research suggests that depression is associated with lower grade point averages, and that co-occurring depression and anxiety can increase this association.

Is it OK to get help with college essay?

Friends and family are a good resource to check for authenticity. It's best to seek help from family members with a strong writing or English educational background, or from older siblings and cousins who have been through the college admissions process.

Can college essays be emotional?

Try including an emotional impact in your college essay – it can help create a powerful and memorable experience for the reader. Don't be afraid to share moments of vulnerability and honesty to create a genuine emotional connection with the reader.

Is it okay to talk about abuse in a college essay?

Totally fine. If you work for, like, RAINN, you are allowed to explain what they do and how the topic had affected you, if only on a theoretical level. That being said, if your reasons for joining involve at one point being a victim of similar abuse or condition, you really don't need to mention that.

Should I break my college essay into paragraphs?

A very simple writing rule for your application essay (and for essay editing of any type) is to make your writing readable by adding line breaks and separate paragraphs.

Who actually reads college essays?

Your essay will be read by the admission committee, which will include admission counselors and in some cases professors.

Do colleges really read college essays?

Yes, admissions officers do actually read essays, but they might have already screened candidates first in a preliminary round. Every admissions office has a different process and it's impossible to sum up the exact step-by-step process for each admission office in one blog post.

Are shorter college essays better?

For the Common App, try to stay within 550-650 words, even though the given range is 250-650. Any submission shorter than 500 words will make it look as though you simply didn't care enough to give your best effort. An essay shorter than 500 words won't be long enough to truly share who you are and what matters to you.

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 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.

Is mental health a serious topic?

Globally, mental disorders account for 1 in 6 years lived with disability. People with severe mental health conditions die 10 to 20 years earlier than the general population. And having a mental health condition increases the risk of suicide and experiencing human rights violations.