Two common mistakes students make when using the personal statement to disclose a mental health challenge: Focusing more on the "challenge" part of their story than the "what I did" and "what I learned.". This can result in an essay that feels, to quote a past student, "like a sob story.".
Should I write about my mental health struggles in my college essay
11 months ago. Writing about mental health challenges can be a deeply personal and meaningful topic for your college essay, but you're right to consider the potential implications. If you decide to write about your mental health journey, it's important to focus primarily on the growth and resilience you've demonstrated despite your challenges.
Should You Talk About Mental Health in College Essays?
Mental health is an important part of your well-being, and it's essential to start good habits in high school. This way, you'll be better prepared to cope when you face new challenges in college. You'll likely be experiencing living on your own for the first time and have new responsibilities without the same support system that you had ...
Should I discuss my mental health struggles in my college essay?
If it has, then it may be worth discussing in your essay. However, if there are other experiences or aspects of your life that better define you, you might want to focus on those instead. If you do decide to write about mental health, make sure to emphasize your growth, coping strategies, and the support systems that have helped you overcome ...
Should you discuss mental health issues in your college essay?
Yes, of course, but they are rare. In all the time I did college admissions work, I had exactly one student successfully discuss anxiety in an essay. It was, however, introduced in the context of a family tragedy that had profoundly shaped the student's life; given that background, the discussion seemed natural and matter of fact rather than ...
Talking about Mental Health in Your College Admissions Essay
The short answer is, no, generally not. Because college essays are so brief—the Common App personal statement is only 650 words, about a page and a quarter—students should use the limited space in their college essays to highlight. their strengths. Given how prevalent mental health issues are, having a mental health disorder is unlikely to ...
How to Discuss Mental Health in a College Essay
While mental health issues may be a part of your life, they do not necessarily define who you are, and the Common App essay is all about showing the admissions committee who you are. You can have multiple sides. The additional information section, however, was created just for reasons like these. While the Common App essay is not the place to ...
Is it OK to discuss mental health in an essay?
Mental health struggles can create challenges you must overcome during your education and could be an opportunity for you to show how you've handled challenges and overcome obstacles. If you're considering writing your essay for college admission on this topic, consider talking to your school counselor or with an English teacher on how to frame the essay.
Should I write my college essay about mental health?
Writing a college essay about mental health can be a powerful and personal topic, but it's essential to approach it with care. Here are some guidelines to consider: 1. Relevance: College essays are an opportunity to showcase your unique qualities and experiences, so if your mental health journey is a significant part of who you are and has shaped your character in meaningful ways, it can be an ...
Addressing Mental Illness in the College Application Process
Address your experiences in the "Additional Information" section of the Common Application. If anything was diminished as a result of your personal struggles and you'd like to explain, this is a great place to do so. (I chose to focus my main personal essay on a different topic and only address my mental health in the Additional ...
How to Write a Mental Health in College Students Essay
If you mention mental health, stay brief and matter-of-fact. Don't let it become the whole point of your essay. Review the Instructions. If you're writing this essay for a college course, start by looking over the assignment instructions. Don't just listen to what your teacher says - look up the assignment on the syllabus to see if you ...
How to Address A Mental Health Issue or Disability On Your College
If your struggles with mental health or disabilities are defining features of this nature, then your essay is a great place to frame them positively. If you choose to do so, focus extensively on your recovery or management of these issues, and stress your ability to overcome the challenges you have faced. Never leave an admissions committee to ...
Writing College Essays about Mental Health
If you're considering writing your college essay about mental health challenges, ... the admission office and student services with a fuller picture of your needs and circumstances as they relate to your mental health. If a college doesn't feel it can support you, the school is not going to be a great fit for you. ...
Mental Health in College Students
Thankfully, these are, of course, extreme cases of mental health challenges. However, the shift in focus could benefit the massive numbers of students who enter college each year with depression/anxiety. According to a survey by the CDC in 2022, 44% of American adolescents report feeling persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness; 28% said ...
Opinion
But my experiences also affected me and my academic record in ways that weren't so appealing: Like approximately 80 percent of current foster youths and many former ones, I had serious mental ...
Can I write about mental health in my college essay?
11 months ago. Hello! Writing about your experiences with mental health can be a powerful and meaningful topic for a college essay, as long as you approach it carefully. Colleges appreciate when students are open and honest about their personal experiences, as it shows resilience and personal growth. It's important to focus on how you've ...
Essay on mental health
Importance of Mental Health. Mental health plays a pivotal role in determining how individuals think, feel, and act. It influences our decision-making processes, stress management techniques, interpersonal relationships, and even our physical health. A well-tuned mental state boosts productivity, creativity, and the intrinsic sense of self ...
How to Discuss Your Mental Health on College Applications
Before thinking about whether or not you should write about mental health in your college essay, you should remember what the essay — or the "personal statement"— is all about in the first place. ... Be personal in your college application essay — but do so in an optimistic and positive way. The purpose of the essay is to convince the ...
Depression: Should I Talk about My Mental Illness in My Application?
Here's my advice about how to handle this sensitive subject in your college application process: First of all, know that you are not alone. According to recent studies by the Center for Collegiate Mental Health anxiety and depression are the most common mental illnesses seen by college counseling centers. In fact, there has been a 30% ...
Is writing about an mental illness too common for an college essay?
Unless you can say you've overcome it, it's not a good idea. The reasoning is pretty callous, but colleges don't like depressed people or those prone to panic attacks on campus. Especially with eating disorders, because people with eating disorders tend to die, and having a death on campus looks really bad for the college. 3.
Is it a bad idea to write about mental health issues in my college essay?
11 months ago. It's essential to be genuine and open in your college essay, but it's also crucial to present yourself in the best light possible. While discussing mental health issues can give insight into your character and growth, it may also raise concerns for admissions officers about your ability to handle the stresses of college life.
Advice on writing my college essay? Is mental health an alright topic
This sounds like a good personal statement idea which also has a nice tie-in with your intended major. That said, writing about mental health in college applications is risky: it might raise doubts (valid or not) about your ability to perform lots of rigorous coursework. The way to get around this is making sure you have a clear arc in your ...
COMMENTS
Two common mistakes students make when using the personal statement to disclose a mental health challenge: Focusing more on the "challenge" part of their story than the "what I did" and "what I learned.". This can result in an essay that feels, to quote a past student, "like a sob story.".
11 months ago. Writing about mental health challenges can be a deeply personal and meaningful topic for your college essay, but you're right to consider the potential implications. If you decide to write about your mental health journey, it's important to focus primarily on the growth and resilience you've demonstrated despite your challenges.
Mental health is an important part of your well-being, and it's essential to start good habits in high school. This way, you'll be better prepared to cope when you face new challenges in college. You'll likely be experiencing living on your own for the first time and have new responsibilities without the same support system that you had ...
If it has, then it may be worth discussing in your essay. However, if there are other experiences or aspects of your life that better define you, you might want to focus on those instead. If you do decide to write about mental health, make sure to emphasize your growth, coping strategies, and the support systems that have helped you overcome ...
Yes, of course, but they are rare. In all the time I did college admissions work, I had exactly one student successfully discuss anxiety in an essay. It was, however, introduced in the context of a family tragedy that had profoundly shaped the student's life; given that background, the discussion seemed natural and matter of fact rather than ...
The short answer is, no, generally not. Because college essays are so brief—the Common App personal statement is only 650 words, about a page and a quarter—students should use the limited space in their college essays to highlight. their strengths. Given how prevalent mental health issues are, having a mental health disorder is unlikely to ...
While mental health issues may be a part of your life, they do not necessarily define who you are, and the Common App essay is all about showing the admissions committee who you are. You can have multiple sides. The additional information section, however, was created just for reasons like these. While the Common App essay is not the place to ...
Mental health struggles can create challenges you must overcome during your education and could be an opportunity for you to show how you've handled challenges and overcome obstacles. If you're considering writing your essay for college admission on this topic, consider talking to your school counselor or with an English teacher on how to frame the essay.
Writing a college essay about mental health can be a powerful and personal topic, but it's essential to approach it with care. Here are some guidelines to consider: 1. Relevance: College essays are an opportunity to showcase your unique qualities and experiences, so if your mental health journey is a significant part of who you are and has shaped your character in meaningful ways, it can be an ...
Address your experiences in the "Additional Information" section of the Common Application. If anything was diminished as a result of your personal struggles and you'd like to explain, this is a great place to do so. (I chose to focus my main personal essay on a different topic and only address my mental health in the Additional ...
If you mention mental health, stay brief and matter-of-fact. Don't let it become the whole point of your essay. Review the Instructions. If you're writing this essay for a college course, start by looking over the assignment instructions. Don't just listen to what your teacher says - look up the assignment on the syllabus to see if you ...
If your struggles with mental health or disabilities are defining features of this nature, then your essay is a great place to frame them positively. If you choose to do so, focus extensively on your recovery or management of these issues, and stress your ability to overcome the challenges you have faced. Never leave an admissions committee to ...
If you're considering writing your college essay about mental health challenges, ... the admission office and student services with a fuller picture of your needs and circumstances as they relate to your mental health. If a college doesn't feel it can support you, the school is not going to be a great fit for you. ...
Thankfully, these are, of course, extreme cases of mental health challenges. However, the shift in focus could benefit the massive numbers of students who enter college each year with depression/anxiety. According to a survey by the CDC in 2022, 44% of American adolescents report feeling persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness; 28% said ...
But my experiences also affected me and my academic record in ways that weren't so appealing: Like approximately 80 percent of current foster youths and many former ones, I had serious mental ...
11 months ago. Hello! Writing about your experiences with mental health can be a powerful and meaningful topic for a college essay, as long as you approach it carefully. Colleges appreciate when students are open and honest about their personal experiences, as it shows resilience and personal growth. It's important to focus on how you've ...
Importance of Mental Health. Mental health plays a pivotal role in determining how individuals think, feel, and act. It influences our decision-making processes, stress management techniques, interpersonal relationships, and even our physical health. A well-tuned mental state boosts productivity, creativity, and the intrinsic sense of self ...
Before thinking about whether or not you should write about mental health in your college essay, you should remember what the essay — or the "personal statement"— is all about in the first place. ... Be personal in your college application essay — but do so in an optimistic and positive way. The purpose of the essay is to convince the ...
Here's my advice about how to handle this sensitive subject in your college application process: First of all, know that you are not alone. According to recent studies by the Center for Collegiate Mental Health anxiety and depression are the most common mental illnesses seen by college counseling centers. In fact, there has been a 30% ...
Unless you can say you've overcome it, it's not a good idea. The reasoning is pretty callous, but colleges don't like depressed people or those prone to panic attacks on campus. Especially with eating disorders, because people with eating disorders tend to die, and having a death on campus looks really bad for the college. 3.
11 months ago. It's essential to be genuine and open in your college essay, but it's also crucial to present yourself in the best light possible. While discussing mental health issues can give insight into your character and growth, it may also raise concerns for admissions officers about your ability to handle the stresses of college life.
This sounds like a good personal statement idea which also has a nice tie-in with your intended major. That said, writing about mental health in college applications is risky: it might raise doubts (valid or not) about your ability to perform lots of rigorous coursework. The way to get around this is making sure you have a clear arc in your ...