Is it okay to write about depression in a college essay?

Mental health history or a disability might be an integral part of who a student is, but that doesn't necessarily make it relevant to a college application. Keep in mind that it is actually illegal for colleges to ask for these types of details about your life because it can be considered discrimination.

Should you write about mental illness in 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.

What shouldn't be in a college essay?

ANYTHING TOO PRIVATE

While a college admissions essay is supposed to help the committee get to know your student, that doesn't mean they should reveal overly personal details. It may lead the committee to assume your student doesn't understand boundaries, which isn't ideal.

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.

Is it bad to write about trauma in a college essay?

If a student does decide that they want to write about trauma in their essay, they should be cautious of how they frame it. Students should make it clear that their goal is not to seek sympathy from the admissions officer, but to demonstrate how they've grown from their trauma.

Should You Talk About Mental Health in Your College Essays?

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)

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.

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.

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.

Can I cuss in my college essay?

Avoid swearing in a college essay, since admissions officers' opinions of profanity will vary. In some cases, it might be okay to use a vulgar word, such as in dialogue or quotes that make an important point in your essay. However, it's safest to try to make the same point without swearing.

What is the most common college essay topic?

How do you make a college essay not cringe?

Is name dropping bad in college essays?

Consider your impact carefully before name dropping specific professors. This may be appropriate to include if the professor's research covers a specific academic interest of yours or if you've read a book they've published. However, steer away from browsing the school's website just to drop in a professor's name.

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 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.

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.

Is writing about anxiety a bad college essay?

A student is only going to write a truly great essay if it addresses a meaningful and personal experience. There are some valid reasons not to address mental health challenges on a college application. But the student may still feel their mental health is a critical part of the story they want to share.

Do admissions officers actually read 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.

Do colleges pay attention to essays?

Many colleges will ask you to submit an essay or personal statement and some will require you to answer additional questions with shorter essays. Here is your opportunity to put your personality into your application. A well-written essay can tip a decision in your favor and a poorly written one can do the opposite.

Can a bad essay ruin your college application?

After months or even years of working to achieve excellent test scores, strong grades, and relevant work/volunteering experiences, fatigue can get the best of people. However, a weak college application essay can severely hurt your chance of admission.

Who actually reads college essays?

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

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.

How to avoid trauma dumping in college essay?

While the personal essay can be a daunting task for students, approaching the piece with a clear sense of self, an understanding of the essay's purpose, and a sensitivity to its impact on the reader will help students avoid oversharing or trauma dumping as they write.

Is GPA or essay more important?

Grades, GPA, and transcripts are important components when applying to college. But numbers only tell part of the story. The college admissions essay plays a much more powerful role in telling your personal story to college admissions officers.

What is considered a bad essay?

If an essay is poorly structured, then it will be very difficult to comprehend and to evaluate the quality of its content. Therefore, a poorly structured essay is almost always also a substantively bad essay.