Dear Roadie,
Is it appropriate to write about any kind of mental illness or eating disorder in a college essay? This is what my daughter wants to focus on, but I’m not sure it’s such a good idea. I don’t want colleges to look at her differently.
— Worried About The Essay
Dear Worried About The Essay,
Let me begin by saying that what I love about your daughter’s story is that she not only feels entirely comfortable talking about mental illness, but sharing her experience, too. This takes a lot of courage and confidence, and she should be commended for that.
I think it’s important to recognize that even just one generation ago, no one was talking about mental health or eating disorders in school, except perhaps for an after-school special on TV now and then. The fact that students today are encouraged and comfortable talking about this subject matter shows incredible progress, both on their part and on the schools’ part.
That said, I understand your concern about this topic for a college essay. These are tricky topics to write about, especially for anyone with unresolved issues. Colleges are not legally allowed to discriminate against students based on factors like these, but admissions counselors are human and as such they are likely to make some judgments about her story, good or bad. However, that is what they are paid to do — make judgments and determine which students are best suited for their curriculum and environment.
To be honest, some schools may be nervous about accepting students with psychiatric histories, especially if they don’t have adequate resources on campus to support them. They aren’t just thinking about how the student will perform academically, they’re wondering how the student will perform socially, and whether they could change their behavior toward themselves or others should their condition become worse.
When Writing About Mental Illness Could Work — And When It Might Not
If she wants to share her experience because she was able to work through it successfully and it opened her eyes to a career in wellness, that could make sense for a college essay. If it’s because she wants them to know she has limitations as a result, it’s probably not such a good idea. If that’s the case, it’s much better to search for a school that is known to be more welcoming to students with these types of conditions, such as those that offer counseling services on campus.
Remember that the purpose of a college essay is for the schools to get to know your daughter better, to see her as a three-dimensional being with experiences, ideas, and opinions, so they can get a better sense of whether she’s the right fit for their school. The goal is to present the most positive view of herself possible.
If she feels that writing about her mental illness and eating disorder will reveal positive personal traits, it could work. But she would need to focus on what she learned from the experience, how it helped her grow, and the skills she cultivated as a result. That’s the point of the personal statement essay — to show who you are and your potential for continuing growth in college. A mature approach could result in a strong essay. I don’t know many high school students who could pull it off, but that doesn’t mean your daughter shouldn’t try.
If there’s even a chance that this topic won’t strengthen her application and may even weaken it, I would suggest choosing a different topic. The last thing she needs is for colleges to doubt her abilities or question whether she can perform well under pressure.
At the end of the day, this is strictly a matter of personal choice — your daughter’s choice. Whatever she decides to do, I would support her. Not doing so won’t do her or your relationship any good, and while it’s hard to accept, she is an adult now and she deserves respect when making difficult decisions, even those you don’t agree with.
Have a perplexing college question? Email Dear Roadie for advice at dearroadie@road2college.com
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