How much "I" is TMI in a personal statement?

[fancyfeast]

Hi all,

 

So I had to withdraw from classes for a semester because I got really physically sick. Honestly, it was no big deal in the end, but I just wanted to use a sentence to discuss my semester of W's on my transcript and show that even though this happened, I still graduated on time ("strong work ethic" and all that) and still did really well academically. Just wondering how vague or specific I should be about the nature of my illness. 

 

Just "sick" could be anything, I feel like. It could have been a mental illness, and even though I actually do struggle with depression, this has nothing to do with that and outside of my counselor no one knows I am depressed. I also don't want to gross people out, or have them be like "why is she sharing so much information with me?" Also don't want to turn it into a sob story.

 

Right now this is how I have it in my statement:

 

"I became sick due to a growth in my abdominal cavity that required surgery and had to withdraw from my classes; I recovered by the following summer and took more classes related to my major per semester than I would have otherwise in order to graduate within four years of matriculation"

 

[bsharpe269]

I think i would be less specific than what you have above. I get what you mean about mental illness and wanting to make it clear that it isnt related to that...

 

I think I would just stick with saying that you needed surgery and had to recover from it. That makes it clear that you arent discussing mental illness without giving too much detail.

[shadowclaw]

I agree that just saying you had surgery is sufficient. I'm sure that they will assume that it was substantial surgery and not just getting your wisdom teeth out

[Cookie]

Yikes, that is definitely TMI... 

[fancyfeast]

Took everyone's advice and changed it! Sorry if I made anyone uncomfortable hehe. Real story is much more gruesome

[beccamayworth]

Took everyone's advice and changed it! Sorry if I made anyone uncomfortable hehe. Real story is much more gruesome

 

I was totally fine with your original version. I didn't think it was TMI at all, but maybe it's a cultural thing since I'm not American. Or an age thing, since when you get older you get used to gruesome health details. Anyway, I agree with everyone that just mentioning the surgery should be totally fine. I'm glad you're ok now!