Hey! So, I was born with Turner Syndrome and it played a huge role influencing my life. I was surrounded by science and doctors and medicine since birth and that’s why i’m so interested in it. In fact, I want to be a pediatric endocrinologist because i see what my own pediatric endocrinologist does and I find it fascinating. I want to talk about this in my common app essay (Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.). However, I’ve heard from alot of people that you shouldn’t mention illnesses in your common app essay because it sounds like you are asking for pity. Should I approach the essay from a different angle then?
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Your disorder is probably such an integral part of who you are that it kind of seems a shame to me to NOT write about it.
Do it. I recommend writing no more than 1/3 of the essay on your experience of the illness and at least 2/3 on how you grew from the experience.
bump
Turner syndrome can/should be the background for your essay, but why not focus more on what you have achieved despite it. Show the adcoms that it does not hinder you from achievement.