Talking About Depression at Interviews

[ashes2ashes]

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At an interview, is it wrong to say depression caused me to have low grades in certain semesters or will this fact make the school think less of me?

 

[rav4182]

here prob gonna ask why you were depressed. be prepared to have a good answer.

 

[KoughDai]

here prob gonna ask why you were depressed. be prepared to have a good answer.

You are clearly too ignorant to recognize that depression is a disease. Sufferers of depression have no choice, as this is not a self-inflicted ailment. I'm sure that if sufferers of depression could change the chemical imbalance in their brains, they would choose to do so.

To the OP, I wouldn't feel comfortable sharing medical history with an interviewer ordinarily, however if it truly affected your grades drastically, it's worth discussing (they will appreciate your candid nature) . Be sure to let them know that you've gotten the proper treatment and are recovering and that your performance subsequently improved. To deny you admission simply because of a medical condition would be illegal.

 

[SeattleRDH]

If they ask it's your choice on how in-depth you want to get about your condition. You can just say "medical conditions" that are no longer a problem but that you would rather not discuss.

I wouldn't bring it up unless they ask because then it might seem like you are making excuses. I got a C in o.chem during my first trimester of pregnancy but I won't put a spotlight on that grade unless they do it first.

 

[aelian]

If they ask it's your choice on how in-depth you want to get about your condition. You can just say "medical conditions" that are no longer a problem but that you would rather not discuss.

I wouldn't bring it up unless they ask because then it might seem like you are making excuses. I got a C in o.chem during my first trimester of pregnancy but I won't put a spotlight on that grade unless they do it first.

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I agree, don't bring it up unless it is asked of you and unless it is also substantial. If they say, why did you have such a drop during such and such semester, don't blame it on a depression unless it was major, as in you had a medical excuse or required professional help and medication---NOT a self-diagnosed illness because depression is pretty darn common, especially among college kids, and everyone thinks they are suffering from depression rather than stress.
And don't embellish the bad. If you must mention it, mention it briefly but quickly show that you got over it. Focus on the GOOD.

 

[DownFracture]

👍👍👍
I agree, don't bring it up unless it is asked of you and unless it is also substantial. If they say, why did you have such a drop during such and such semester, don't blame it on a depression unless it was major, as in you had a medical excuse or required professional help and medication---NOT a self-diagnosed illness because depression is pretty darn common, especially among college kids, and everyone thinks they are suffering from depression rather than stress.
And don't embellish the bad. If you must mention it, mention it briefly but quickly show that you got over it. Focus on the GOOD.

👍👍👍

Great advice.

 

[ashes2ashes]

thanks everyone 🙂

 

[slm266]

You are clearly too ignorant to recognize that depression is a disease. Sufferers of depression have no choice, as this is not a self-inflicted ailment.

Calm down chief, it's a valid question. They never insinuated that the OP just decided to be depressed one day, but depression obviously can arise from a specific incident/issue and then develop into a more generalized chronic depression.

At an interview, is it wrong to say depression caused me to have low grades in certain semesters or will this fact make the school think less of me?

Yes its wrong to say that depression caused you to have low grades. Read the following SDN article and you'll understand why.
http://www.studentdoctor.net/2010/0...n=Feed:+studentdoctor+(Student+Doctor+Network