<p>I refuse to write about my depression in my college essay. Now I feel like I have nothing to write about. I missed a lot of school because of stress and mental illness and it shows on my transcript. I’m not aiming for super competitive colleges. I’m trying to get into some CSUs and UCs. My gpa is not that good and I don’t mind going to a city college but there is just so much pressure for me to go to a UC that I think I should at least apply. </p>
<p>Will UCs and CSUs see my poor attendance track from sophmore year and automatically reject me? If I am rejected, my parents will freak out and I will feel really bad for hurting them? How do I deal with this?</p>
<p>Have your attendance and grades improved since sophomore year? If they have, then colleges will see that you have progressed and matured as a student. Will they notice the several absences during sophomore year? Most likely, but then again, it was only one year that in which you had attendance issues. </p>
<p>Concerning the issue with disappointing your parents with rejections from the state universities, you have to realize that it is not your parents who are the ones going to the university. If you have not visited these universities yet or have looked into their majors, student life, etc. I would consider doing so. Maybe your parents are right - the state universities might be good for you. However, they may not be a good match. While it would be nice to go to a state university, do what you are most comfortable with, and hopefully your parents can learn to accept that.</p>