Should I mention depression on my SOP?

[vivaglam]

During my first two years of college I didn't perform well at all. I had always been academically inclined and my grades bothered me a lot.

I was very sad and frustrated about this. My RA made me see the health center where I was diagnosed with clinical depression. I withdrew from my classes retroactively and went home for the summer. I was back in fall and still not performing well. I went through a lot of personal issues at this time and found myself back at the health center where I was diagnosed with depression again. I finally decided to do something about this and sought treatment.

I then transferred to another university and performed extremely well there academically.

I really don't know how to talk about this in my SOP. I do realize it is something that needs to be addressed. Also my first school is a top university while the second is not that great, will this affect my application?

[newms]

This is a tough situation. Depression is unfairly stigmatised in society and I really don't know how an admissions committee would react to it. You will have to somehow explain what happened in the past, perhaps you could frame it as a positive to show that you overcame a difficult situation to do well academically. Was there an underlying situation in your life that caused the depression? If so, it may be better to show how you overcame that situation rather than mention the depression it caused.

Edited October 7, 2010 by newms

[vivaglam]

This is a tough situation. Depression is unfairly stigmatised in society and I really don't know how an admissions committee would react to it. You will have to somehow explain what happened in the past, perhaps you could frame it as a positive to show that you overcame a difficult situation to do well academically. Was there an underlying situation in your life that caused the depression? If so, it may be better to show how you overcame that situation rather than mention the depression it caused.

Thank you for replying newms!

Unfortunately I don't know whether my depression was a result of bad grades or vice versa.

Most other people I consulted said it was best to say "medical condition," which to me is very vague.

My GPA is still above average and my major GPA is almost perfect. I just don't want the admissions committee to feel that I won't be able to handle to pressures of graduate school.

[fuzzylogician]

I'd also suggest to keep it short and vague, and I think that "medical condition" sounds like a good choice of words.

The adcom doesn't need to know the specifics, the important thing is that you briefly say that you previously had a problem which affected your grades but it's now under control and you are doing well at your new school.

If you can keep this out of the SOP, that will be great. Most schools have space for you to tell them "anything else you think is relevant to your application" or some such.

Otherwise, keep it down to 1-2 sentences which reference the problem in the past tense and stress the current upward trend in your grades.

Edited October 7, 2010 by fuzzylogician

[vivaglam]

Thanks fuzzylogician!

I think I'll do as you suggested

[adaptations]

I second fuzzylogician's comments.

[vivaglam]

Thank you adaptations. I now feel even more confident in using that approach

[shepardn7]

Thank you for replying newms!

Unfortunately I don't know whether my depression was a result of bad grades or vice versa.

Most other people I consulted said it was best to say "medical condition," which to me is very vague.

My GPA is still above average and my major GPA is almost perfect. I just don't want the admissions committee to feel that I won't be able to handle to pressures of graduate school.

This is late, but I just want to say that "medical condition" does not sound too vague to me. The adcom has no right to know what the extenuating circumstances were and would be extremely unethical to penalize you for desiring confidentiality. If they are going to judge you for it, you don't want to work with them for seven years -- trust me. (Though if they were to judge you for your clinical depression, I'd say the same thing.)

[shepardn7]

Thank you for replying newms!

Unfortunately I don't know whether my depression was a result of bad grades or vice versa.

Most other people I consulted said it was best to say "medical condition," which to me is very vague.

My GPA is still above average and my major GPA is almost perfect. I just don't want the admissions committee to feel that I won't be able to handle to pressures of graduate school.

This is late, but I just want to say that "medical condition" does not sound too vague to me. The adcom has no right to know what the extenuating circumstances were and would be extremely unethical to penalize you for desiring confidentiality. If they are going to judge you for it, you don't want to work with them for seven years -- trust me. (Though if they were to judge you for your clinical depression, I'd say the same thing.)

[Go_Girl]

hey you could like the other said, keep it vague by saying due to "medical conditions" and then use it in your favor by adding "despite your health problems you managed to obtain very good grades "

That will probably paint a strong picture of your character