Stigmas

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As part of the application there are these things called BioSketches, which basically is a resume where you include papers you've published, projects you've worked on, your academic history, and a couple of short personal statements about yourself and your project. 

In undergrad, I went through a period of depression and my grades weren't that great so I thought I should address that in my personal statement by mentioning it. When my advisor reviewed it, he suggested that I should probably take it out. He's a really great mentor and I trust that he has my best interests in mind, so I did it without a second thought. 

But then later, I started to think, is it really such a big deal to admit that you struggled with depression before? Why should it look bad or count against my application? Were they afraid I would relapse and therefore I'd be a less qualified candidate? If anything, the fact that I went and got my master's to make up for my undergraduate grades should prove how dedicated and persistent I was? 

Yet at the same time... I really wanted that fellowship so I decided it'd be better to be safe than sorry. Or was I just perpetuating the stigma against depression? 

And if I did keep it in my application, maybe the reviewers would see that people who struggled with depression are just as qualified?


Side note, my application was really promising but I didn't get a good enough score to be awarded. However after addressing the reviewers' comments, I am re-submitting in August and I think I have a fairly good chance at getting it this time (fingers crossed). 

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