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

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

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.

50:22

Creator website

Episode guests

Emi Nietfeld

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Navigating disclosures in college applications can be anxiety-inducing for students, requiring them to balance authenticity with strategic presentation of their experiences.

High school counselors play a crucial role in supporting students with mental health challenges, helping them articulate their stories and navigate the application process effectively.

Deep dives

Understanding the Balance of Disclosure in College Applications

There is a significant distinction between openly discussing mental health challenges and strategically disclosing them in college applications. Students often feel pressured to reveal personal hardships in their admissions essays, believing it reflects their true selves. However, this expectation can create anxiety and complicate the application process, as it may detract from conveying their genuine passions and interests. It's essential for students to navigate this landscape carefully, considering the implications of their disclosures while maintaining their personal narrative.

Intro

4min

Navigating Mental Health Disclosure in College Apps

6min

Navigating College Applications: A Journey with Mental Health

7min

Navigating the Complexity of Mental Health Disclosures in College Applications

2min

Navigating Mental Health in College Applications

8min

Navigating Mental Health in College Apps

20min

Affirmation and Empathy in College Applications

5min

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?