Should I Mention Depression on My College Application?

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If you think that's what depression is, I fear for this world.

Brandi of MI 6:49PM March 21, 2010

As aomeone who suffers from seasonal depression and is about to apply to colleges, I thought this article might help. My grades have dropped quite a bit in high school and I dont know if I should include my depression in my applications, yet this article did not help me decide on that at all.

K of NY 12:03PM August 29, 2009

As a mother of an A student in grade school, who quickly spiraled down to a failing student by the time she reached high school, I can feel the pain of these students and their parents when it comes time to college. She had been diagnosed with Oppositional defiant Disorder to ADHD, to a problen child, before I, who also has depression, realized she had it. In a adolescent, the tell tale signs may not be there until she reaches a certain maturity level, such as excessive crying and actually admitting that there is something wrong with her but does not what or why. These kids should not be discriminated against, they are getting treatment. It is an illness, often hereditary. They did not ask to get it, just as a teenager who develops diabetes or irritable bowel syndrome. Do they get discriminated against? If anything they should be given extra consideration, due to the fact that they are getting the help they need or needed. It is the other forms of mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, where other students may get hurt. The public needs to become more aware of how many people out there actually suffer from depression. It is said that one in five are on an antidepressant.....In todays demanding world, I would say at least an extra one or two is on them and not admitting it, because of fear of discrimination, or they should be on them.

Dee of NY 11:55PM February 07, 2009

Bye basing admisssion regarding mental issues you are stigmatizing the issue. Now less people will come in for treatment and may people will suffer because they don't want to be rejected. Also the majority of people who are mentallly ill don't become violent with others. The damage they do is mostly self-inflicted and they do it in solitude.
I suffering from major depression didn't think of harming others. I just wanted to be alone and hurt myself.

of DE 9:34AM December 29, 2008

This article discusses a very wide range of issues and kind of lumps them all together into one topic: depression, drug use, cheating, and criminal offenses are all very different issues, and since the article is titled "Should I Mention Depression on My College Application", I thought it tried to cover too much. These are all different and should be addressed and thought about differently.
One final note about the mention of the presence of depressed college students as a sign of "diversity" -- mental health problems occur in every population, and whether they're talked about or not. Relating mental health issues to diversity is, I think, confusing and misleading.
Enjoyed the article, though -- it's an important topic.

of FL 4:48AM July 22, 2008

I think that one of the factors that could be cause of student bad development or not comprehensive normal personal development, is the over pressure felt by trying to reach goals not possible for the normal capabilities of the moment.
Thus it is so important that parents, teachers, counselors, friends, try to convince the person to study at his-her normal pace. it does not mater to repeat the semester study, or getting goals slower than others, rather than affecting the personality in a variety of ways; instead, when the times comes, it will pay off.
It is also the teacher task to observe his/her students, and to suggests different training that matchs different levels of students habilities and capacities.
Above all, by this point of view, I consider that learning in school is just one of the parts of the student life, and need to be completed by others equaly important, like health, family, friendship, arts, community conexions, etc.

fernando vega mora of AZ 8:42PM July 17, 2008

I need some Prozac, Riddlin, Oxy...
Oh, yea, BTW, I cant wait to see Sex in the City on May 31st.
This is what happens to society when the family breaks down.
I totally support schools asking questions regarding mental issues so that kids have a safe place to learn and study. Not too mention the liability issues.

greg of IL 12:34PM May 13, 2008

The incredibly flawed assumption here is that every high schooler that has suffered from truancy, academic, social or behavioral problems is a Virgina Tech time bomb waiting to happen. At the rate that these colleges are going down this slippery slope, there will be no one left to meet their artificial litmus tests for mental sobriety. While I completely understand the need for some increased caution in vetting applicants at a time when we have so many (too many) young people taking medications for ADHD, temporary bouts of the blues, etc., who will step in to ensure that this process doesn't turn into a witch hunt, which this story suggests is already well underway?

Blue Heron of PA 3:55PM May 07, 2008

With the high percentage of American adults being treated for depression and other mental health disorders, it it likely that in many admissions office there is at least one. In light of this, it is highly hypocritical for colleges to discriminate against applicants who have suffered from minor mental health issues.

Kara of MT 7:28PM May 03, 2008