Depression & Graduate School

[alexis]

I do think I some version of the truth is necessary to explain the inconsistency. A past professor said absolutely do not mention addiction (even though I've been clean five years), and only discuss depression very delicately, if at all. Two other professors said my current record will speak for itself and beyond a passing comment addessing it, I shouldn't dwell on it. They didn't have the transcripts in front of them, though.

Another option I have that I haven't discussed with my professors is to talk about PTSD. I was the victim of a brutal rape, and it's possible to explain my past in terms of the trauma being debilitating for many years. It's not the whole truth, but maybe partial is best in my case. It just feels a little misleading, since I've always thought of myself as suffering from depression first and foremost. Thoughts?

Could you just generally explain that you had a chronic illness, but you are doing much better with treatment? It's not really their business what the exact medical condition was, and you're not obligated to share that you suffer from depression. By explaining it in general terms and how it affected your academics, but now you are doing much better, that may address it (and you can keep it brief). Perhaps you can tie that into how it made you a stronger person and even more determined to pursue your academic goals (if that's the case) by having to overcome a difficult period in your life.

Edited November 19, 2009 by alexis