Mental illness and admission to uni

Applying to College
1

I am facing bipolar disorder, depression and Schizophrenia. I am IB student now and I will finish next year. I always want to study medicine in US but I have two concerns

  1. The current college told me to not study medicine but I didn’t argue.
  2. I will like to write my common app essay on bipolar disorder.
    What could you advice me based on your experience?
    Thanks.
2

Undergrads in the U.S. don’t study medicine. You would to choose a major that is offered by the college you attend.

Your essay should make admissions officers want to accept you because you will be a great addition to their school. Focusing on your mental health problems is not a good idea.

3

  1. Make sure you have your mental health issues under control (e.g., treated medically) before you start college.

  2. Do you think that moving to another country is the best idea given your issues?

  3. What do you mean by studying medicine in America? You have to first go to undergraduate for 4 years and get a degree, making sure to take the med school pre-reqs like Bio, Chem, Organic CHem, etc. You need to volunteer and shadow doctors. Then you need to apply to and get accepted into Medical Schools.

  4. Not that many international students are accepted into US medical schools https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/article/applying-international-applicant/

  5. You have to pay for both undergraduate and medical school unless you can get scholarships…which once again, are not that common for international students.
    https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/article/applying-international-applicant/

  6. College essays are not confessionals. They are a way for a college to understand what is unique about you. Do they want to know about someone who has been interested in medicine and has volunteered at hospitals to learn about it and plays soccer with his friends? Or do they want to know that the thing you think that makes you unique is that you have bipolar? What makes a college say lets admit that person, I think they will be successful?

4

Excellent advice above from @bopper . Your essay is supposed to give them a reason to say yes to you, and to understand what you are like as a person. I advise against writing about bipolar disorder.

5

So you have schizoaffective disorder? Have you talked to your doctor and/or counselor about studying abroad? Stress is a factor that greatly exacerbates symptoms in this type of mental illness. I think it would be really difficult to manage your illness and study so far away from home. If you do, you need to have lots of supports in place.

I’m speaking from experience - my son was in your shoes and found it too difficult to study on the other side of the US from home.

One possibility would be to study at home one year and see how it goes. Good luck to you! I’m proud of you for being so determined.

6

Mental health issues, like most other medical issues, generally are best addressed by guidance counselors in their letters of recommendation. Let them explain what you have overcome to get where you are. If your essay falls short, you don’t want to be seen as “making excuses”.

With your mental health what it is, I would suggest starting university in your home country and plan for a “semester abroad” in the USA later on.