Essay theme: chronic illness

[Anonymous]

I would have said stay away from these topics entirely - but reading these thoughtful responses, I learned a lot. There’s room for nuance for sure. I agree with the thought to keep it very positive/motivational and not raise any red flags about how the student might navigate the college experience. Good luck to you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The case for mentioning:

A chronic illness forces a level of maturity and independence that cannot be faked. Depending on the illness, the kid has likely successfully juggled not only the standard high school challenges (learning, studying, taking tests and writing papers, volunteering, performing, being a friend/teammate/etc.), but also a whole series of other complex tasks: managing medications and prescriptions, calculating doses, actively planning ahead for things like sports, extracurriculars, field trips, etc. They've likely had to navigate a labyrinthine medical system, actively communicate their needs to doctors, coaches, teachers, friends, and school administrators.

If they've managed to do all that while remaining a strong student and a positive, personable human being, then they've proved something really, really important about themselves: that they can multitask, plan/ prioritize, deal with setbacks, self-advocate, self-regulate, and navigate complexity.

The challenge is how an applicant can communicate this without seeming like they're complaining, or as if they're struggling in a way that makes them less likely to succeed (or are more likely to be a drain on resources). Additional Information is a great place for this. Keep it brief and positive. Focus on the growth that's already occurred, rather than on the struggle.

Depends upon how the topic is presented. I would have to read the essay before definitively stating that it should or should not be submitted.

[Anonymous]

My DS mentioned surgery to correct a physical disability in the additional information section. He had 3 surgeries during HS and after each was on crutches for about 12 weeks. He was very factual that this impacted his ability to engage with extracurriculars as he had PT and was physically exhausted with the recovery.

[Anonymous]

I think the message to avoid this topic is overblown.

I'm an English teacher, and I help many kids every year. I've seen this type of essay done extremely well. A couple of possible takes:

1.) One kid had a passion for an extracurricular that was VERY challenging to engage in due to her physical illness. However, she loved this extracurricular so much that she kept pushing through. She rose to pretty high heights despite the fact that it was harder for her than for most kids.

2.) One wrote with such exquisite detail about an episode connected to his illness that you couldn't help but be moved. It showcased his writing chops, and he reflected upon how his anger over having this condition propelled him to achieve things in academics and sports.

[Anonymous]

I think T1D is different from MS or Lupus (which my daughter has). Usually (!) the issues w well known and understood treatment protocols are okay. Every reader will say, oh, like my brother or my bestie from high school. Shows personal health management and reason for career interest.

But I worry OPs daughter is like mine. It’s all a giant question mark. Monthly labs that can be routine or can send her straight to the ER w liver biopsies, total med change, hospital stay followed by more questions. She needed a single room because she really needs to sleep by 9. No drinking at all ever. Etc. She could be read, correctly, as a lot more than can be handled by their med center and possible issues with teacher allowances, housing issues, etc

My daughter didn’t mentioned and got into the 2 HYPSM schools she applied to.

I want to advise the OR to investigate health insurance if the college is out of state . The plans colleges offer may not be up to it. And get a team in place there that is willing to loop parents in at least sometimes. Things like MyChart won’t be available once the kid is 18. And some MyCharts aren’t read between hospitals, which is crazy is something happens in one state and you bring her back to your state for care.

I’m glad my daughter got to attend her dream school and it’s was 95% fine. But the 5% was worrisome med stuff and even tho the college didn’t have to deal w much of it, I’m glad we didn’t mention it and scare them off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the message to avoid this topic is overblown.

I'm an English teacher, and I help many kids every year. I've seen this type of essay done extremely well. A couple of possible takes:

1.) One kid had a passion for an extracurricular that was VERY challenging to engage in due to her physical illness. However, she loved this extracurricular so much that she kept pushing through. She rose to pretty high heights despite the fact that it was harder for her than for most kids.

2.) One wrote with such exquisite detail about an episode connected to his illness that you couldn't help but be moved. It showcased his writing chops, and he reflected upon how his anger over having this condition propelled him to achieve things in academics and sports.

This ^^.

I wouldn't endorse a blanket ban on any topic.

[Anonymous]

Stay away from the three D's

disease
divorce
death

also told not to do, the very-overdone, "trauma of being cut from the varsity team"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Stay away from the three D's

disease
divorce
death

also told not to do, the very-overdone, "trauma of being cut from the varsity team"

Yes to this and the “I learned so much about myself from the volunteer project I did in the poor country over spring break.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine did. She’s type 1 diabetic. It’s why she picked her major-biomedical engineering.

That's a relatively controllable chronic illness. A friend's daughter wrote about her anxiety disorder in one of her essays. When I read the draft, I told her to write about something else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think T1D is different from MS or Lupus (which my daughter has). Usually (!) the issues w well known and understood treatment protocols are okay. Every reader will say, oh, like my brother or my bestie from high school. Shows personal health management and reason for career interest.

But I worry OPs daughter is like mine. It’s all a giant question mark. Monthly labs that can be routine or can send her straight to the ER w liver biopsies, total med change, hospital stay followed by more questions. She needed a single room because she really needs to sleep by 9. No drinking at all ever. Etc. She could be read, correctly, as a lot more than can be handled by their med center and possible issues with teacher allowances, housing issues, etc

My daughter didn’t mentioned and got into the 2 HYPSM schools she applied to.

I want to advise the OR to investigate health insurance if the college is out of state . The plans colleges offer may not be up to it. And get a team in place there that is willing to loop parents in at least sometimes. Things like MyChart won’t be available once the kid is 18. And some MyCharts aren’t read between hospitals, which is crazy is something happens in one state and you bring her back to your state for care.

I’m glad my daughter got to attend her dream school and it’s was 95% fine. But the 5% was worrisome med stuff and even tho the college didn’t have to deal w much of it, I’m glad we didn’t mention it and scare them off.

New poster - thank you for this. My DD is a high school junior with lupus. She too will likely veer away from mentioning it in apps so schools don’t fear her needing time off etc.

I’m curious what accommodations your daughter has asked for? I’ve thought about the single room due to rest and germ issues - since are takes immunosuppressants long term.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think T1D is different from MS or Lupus (which my daughter has). Usually (!) the issues w well known and understood treatment protocols are okay. Every reader will say, oh, like my brother or my bestie from high school. Shows personal health management and reason for career interest.

But I worry OPs daughter is like mine. It’s all a giant question mark. Monthly labs that can be routine or can send her straight to the ER w liver biopsies, total med change, hospital stay followed by more questions. She needed a single room because she really needs to sleep by 9. No drinking at all ever. Etc. She could be read, correctly, as a lot more than can be handled by their med center and possible issues with teacher allowances, housing issues, etc

My daughter didn’t mentioned and got into the 2 HYPSM schools she applied to.

I want to advise the OR to investigate health insurance if the college is out of state . The plans colleges offer may not be up to it. And get a team in place there that is willing to loop parents in at least sometimes. Things like MyChart won’t be available once the kid is 18. And some MyCharts aren’t read between hospitals, which is crazy is something happens in one state and you bring her back to your state for care.

I’m glad my daughter got to attend her dream school and it’s was 95% fine. But the 5% was worrisome med stuff and even tho the college didn’t have to deal w much of it, I’m glad we didn’t mention it and scare them off.

New poster - thank you for this. My DD is a high school junior with lupus. She too will likely veer away from mentioning it in apps so schools don’t fear her needing time off etc.

I’m curious what accommodations your daughter has asked for? I’ve thought about the single room due to rest and germ issues - since are takes immunosuppressants long term.

Lupus patient and mom here--I suggest not mentioning it, my disease is so unpredictable, someone who is a bit more knowledgeable of the illness may raise red flags about possible issues and how to handle on campus. Once admitted I would really push for accommodations, but as we know even they are vague--what one person needs is not what the other one does. The best lupus centers are at Hopkins and MGH--most regular rheumatologist dont even know how to treat, would suggest picking college driving distance to Baltmore or Boston. UCLA has also a great center but if light sensitive would stay away from So Cal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think T1D is different from MS or Lupus (which my daughter has). Usually (!) the issues w well known and understood treatment protocols are okay. Every reader will say, oh, like my brother or my bestie from high school. Shows personal health management and reason for career interest.

But I worry OPs daughter is like mine. It’s all a giant question mark. Monthly labs that can be routine or can send her straight to the ER w liver biopsies, total med change, hospital stay followed by more questions. She needed a single room because she really needs to sleep by 9. No drinking at all ever. Etc. She could be read, correctly, as a lot more than can be handled by their med center and possible issues with teacher allowances, housing issues, etc

My daughter didn’t mentioned and got into the 2 HYPSM schools she applied to.

I want to advise the OR to investigate health insurance if the college is out of state . The plans colleges offer may not be up to it. And get a team in place there that is willing to loop parents in at least sometimes. Things like MyChart won’t be available once the kid is 18. And some MyCharts aren’t read between hospitals, which is crazy is something happens in one state and you bring her back to your state for care.

I’m glad my daughter got to attend her dream school and it’s was 95% fine. But the 5% was worrisome med stuff and even tho the college didn’t have to deal w much of it, I’m glad we didn’t mention it and scare them off.

New poster - thank you for this. My DD is a high school junior with lupus. She too will likely veer away from mentioning it in apps so schools don’t fear her needing time off etc.

I’m curious what accommodations your daughter has asked for? I’ve thought about the single room due to rest and germ issues - since are takes immunosuppressants long term.

glad it's helpful! she asked for - and received without any fuss - a single room in dorm. luckily, she was at a school that kids mostly do on-campus housing for 4 years so she never felt left out when other kids went out and had apartments. it would have been okay, but she goes to bed early and didn't want to ever think she'd be kept up by partying roommates - or that the roommates would feel like they had to be quiet at 9 or something, which wasn't true. Anyway, felt lucky to have sidestepped that.

that was the main thing. she had a couple episodes resulting in missed classes, but professors were understanding. so much is recorded now! also we got her set up with a team at top tier hospital (even so, this gets hard when kid is over 18!). never dealt with campus health care - they're not built for this.

[Anonymous]

Your kid is not their illness. Many kids have medical conditions. Unless your kid writes about the time they were the subject of grand rounds because they are a zebra, and then they helped deliver a baby when they got lost trying to find the restroom, and they found their passion for obstetrics and learned to always bring a spare outfit when they leave the house, it’s really not great source material.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your kid is not their illness. Many kids have medical conditions. Unless your kid writes about the time they were the subject of grand rounds because they are a zebra, and then they helped deliver a baby when they got lost trying to find the restroom, and they found their passion for obstetrics and learned to always bring a spare outfit when they leave the house, it’s really not great source material.

Like nearly every other subject about which a 17-year-old can write (virtually none of which will be unique in and of itself) it’s all in how it’s done. Why is this different?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Like nearly every other subject about which a 17-year-old can write (virtually none of which will be unique in and of itself) it’s all in how it’s done. Why is this different?

It’s not. That’s the point.