Writing about mental illness in college essay?

intparent
Sun, 17 Jul 2016 16:52:18 +0000

I would not. Although it seems like you are past this, adults (like admissions officers) know better. It can come back, and a couple of years without the issue does not translate into having conquered it. Ignore the prompts for the moment – write something that makes a college want you on campus (“possible mental health relapse” is not in that category). Most people I know don’t want to be defined by this type of issue – there is so much more to them as people. You want to pick something that helps them see that person. An essay can be about something small. Don’t think in sweeping terms about the prompts. Think of incidents or experiences that reveal other things about you. Worry about how to fit it into a prompt once you have decided what story you want to tell the admissions officer.