The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College Admissions

514: Navigating Mental Health Disclosures in the College Application: The Student Perspective

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Aug 6, 2024

In this insightful discussion, Emi Nietfeld, author of the acclaimed memoir 'Acceptance,' shares her journey through foster care and homelessness while applying to Harvard. She dives into the complexities of disclosing mental health challenges in college applications. Emi emphasizes the need for students to navigate their narratives thoughtfully and the critical role high school counselors can play in this process. Her personal experiences also highlight the transformative power of writing in reclaiming one's story and identity amidst the admissions landscape.

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ADVICE

Cautious Disclosure

Err on the side of caution when disclosing mental health details like diagnoses or hospitalizations in college applications.
Think strategically about framing and avoid oversharing private medical information.

INSIGHT

Disclosure Spectrum

Disclosing or not disclosing mental health challenges isn't a simple yes-or-no decision.
There's a spectrum of disclosure, and you can explain gaps in transcripts without revealing deeply personal details.

ANECDOTE

Emi's Story

Emi Nietfeld's memoir, Acceptance, details her journey through foster care, homelessness, and mental health challenges during high school.
She navigated complex disclosures while applying to colleges, including Harvard.

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Welcome to the final episode to our special three-part series on mental health disclosures in college applications. In Episode 3, Ethan’s guest is Emi Nietfeld, author of Acceptance (Penguin Press '22), a critically-acclaimed memoir of her high school journey through foster care, homelessness, and the troubled teen industry to attend college at Harvard. In this frank conversation, Emi opens up about, among other things:

How the notion of disclosing (or not disclosing) may actually be somewhat problematic
The difference between writing about challenges in general… and writing about them for the purposes of the college application
The role she believes high school counselors can play in supporting students with mental health challenges during the college application process
Takeaways for college admissions officers evaluating applications that include mental health disclosures
And more

Play-by-Play

2:14 - Emi shares her background and story
3:50 - What advice would Emi give to students about whether or not to disclose?
9:20 - What did Emi write about in her book, Acceptance?
11:55 - What was the college application process like for Emi?
14:24 - How did Emi’s college essay change from the first to final draft?
19:49 - Where else in the application are there opportunities to disclose?
23:38 - What did the rest of Emi’s application look like?
30:00 - How has writing helped Emi process her experiences?
33:17 - How can high school counselors help their students navigate this process?
36:11 - What advice would Emi give to college admission readers?
42:29 - How has Emi’s life been different since writing Acceptance?
46:40 - What are Emi’s hopes for the future of mental health disclosures in college applications?

Resources

Emi’s book, Acceptance
Blog post linked to this episode: Should I Discuss Mental Health in My Personal Statement or College Application? (And If So, How)?
Part 1 of this series – Episode 512: The Counselor Perspective
Part 2 of this series – Episode 513: The Admission Officer Perspective
How to Use the Common App Additional Information Section: Guide + Examples
How to Brainstorm 7 Different Personal Statement Ideas
Episode 406: Why You Don’t Have to Write about Trauma in Your College Essay to Stand Out—and What You Can Do Instead