Should I write my essay on facing depression?

BrownParent
Wed, 25 Feb 2015 04:22:28 +0000

Please note that there is a separate forum for College Essays and this has been much discussed topic over the years (use search.) Pretty much every expert you will find says no, do not use this topic, it is TMI. There is always an exception to the rule and I have read a great essay (that worked) on someone with an eating disorder but that person, I would note, was the class Val and it was 5 years before. Eating disorder is another thing to generally leave out. Aside from the view of risk factor and not selling yourself I personally think there is only so much there is to say. Almost every story of this type sounds the same and follows the same pattern. And believe it they have already read every variation. I think it is especially craven to be trying to explain away a couple of trivial B’s. Suck it up, you got a couple of B’s, it won’t keep you out of anywhere, but not having an interesting essay might.

Please take this lightly but —OMG Cornell has enough problem trying to shake the image of gorge jumpers, although they do not actually have a higher rate of student suicides than other colleges. I can imagine them with a money jar where they have to put a quarter in every time one of the adcoms gets a depression essay. Think–if it is the most important thing in your life to write about, will it be clear you are over it? I think you are over it when you don’t have to write about it, that you have another life brimming with things you must share. And do not think for a minute your protestations of how everything is behind you can be relied upon. How can the adcom make the decision that you are well enough to attend, with imperfect information, without medical affirmation. So proceed if you must but know that this is risky and not unique. Be sure you have some colleges on your list that don’t require essays.