Reply to S/O: revealing health conditions in college app

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Look at the current thread on revealing ADHD in applications.

If essays are focused on career & major choices, the medical condition seems relevant.  Be careful about reviewing the tone so your child comes across as genuine and gives an impression as a whole candidate.

Be honest.  Are you hoping that this is your child's hook to get in because she had to work harder?  If so, keep in mind that some people have to work harder for other reasons (parents are not in the know, no money for tutoring, dyslexia, etc).  Only share information that makes AO impressed that your daughter is a hard worker and has a meaningful career plan vs. "overcoming" something.[/quote]

NP here. If her child has a significant chronic illness/disability, she didn’t “overcome” something, she actually overcame something. FFS. Parents get posters falling over themselves with sympathy when their kids overcome cancer, but anything else, and it had better “relate to their major.”[/quote]

I am PP being quoted and I feel the same about cancer.  I value personal medical privacy and I don't like to share my personal business with randoms in order to obtain something of value to me.  If it's relevant I agree with divulging.  But if one has passed through the fire, it's not always relevant to talk about it. Randoms include admissions officers, essay readers, etc.  If I wouldn't talk to a new friend or prof about it naturally at the new school, why would I want some random essay reader rating my life experience/hardship and how I wrote about it against others.

I guess I'm a bit harsh.  Sorry if I struck a nerve.  But I do believe this.[/quote]

Well, I have a child with an invisible physical illness that has knocked her down for multiple years. There is no way to explain her life, let alone her transcript, without including this information.[/quote]

PP.  I believe there are multiple possible school choices for everyone and I'm not a snob about rankings.  If someone needs a specific school environment or they are really afraid of being rejected from a dream school, then I suggest making the most personal approaches possible. For example, if allowed/advisable, speak with the people that make the decision or people in the department that the student will be educated by on the other side.  I noticed on this year's Indiana Bloomington App that they asked whether the applicant had spoken with a faculty member about admission.  I suppose that could have factored into "Demonstrated Interest".

Two of the schools my child is applying to let you know that you can call the specific regional admissions officer with questions.  Also, I favor the use of the additional information section for briefly explaining complicated situations if there is no action the school needs to take other than admit yes/no.

I understand that chronic conditions never go away.  But if lots of explanation is required to get in, is the school the right place?  I do wonder about that.  In my state, ten nationally UNranked but highly effective and pleasant to attend universities just committed to let in any h.s. grad with a 3.0 or above.  I work with people from these schools and they get paid decent money and have happy lives.  Community college is also excellent for repairing a track record. Schools do generally have GPA rules of thumb that are suggestive of the amount of work and pressure one could expect after matriculating.

Anyway, these are just my thoughts and of course each parent is better placed to counsel their child appropriately.
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