Is it a good idea to write my college essay about ADHD?

Sharing your experience with ADHD in your college essay can definitely make for a compelling and authentic topic, as long as you approach it thoughtfully. Admissions officers aren't looking for "perfect" applicants—they're interested in how you respond to challenges and what you've learned from your experiences. The key is to avoid making your essay just a list of struggles; focus instead on your personal growth and specific moments that shaped your perspective.

If you choose ADHD as your topic, highlight a particular instance or story that exemplifies your journey. For example, instead of a general reflection on having ADHD, you might describe a moment when your strategies for managing attention paid off. Maybe you developed an unusual system to organize your schoolwork, advocated for yourself with teachers, or helped a friend who was facing similar challenges. This approach shows action, growth, and resilience.

It’s also important to strike a balance in tone: you want to be honest about the difficulties but emphasize how you adapted, what you've learned, and how these traits prepare you for college. For instance, you could describe how your unique way of thinking led you to solve problems creatively, or how persistence became one of your core values.

Here’s an example of a strong approach: One student wrote about how she struggled to keep up in class discussions because her mind wandered. Rather than stopping there, she shared how she worked with her counselor to build active listening skills and later started a peer support group for classmates with similar challenges. That story didn’t just highlight her challenges; it showed initiative and leadership.

Admissions officers read many essays about overcoming adversity, so try to zero in on what is unique about your story. Focus on the specific impact ADHD has had on your life and, most importantly, how you've responded.

Ultimately, if you’re passionate about this topic and can convey personal growth, it can absolutely strengthen your application. Just make sure that by the end of your essay, your readers walk away knowing you as more than just your diagnosis—they see your resilience, empathy, or creativity, shaped by your experiences with ADHD.