Applying to College When You Have CFIDS

By Jean Oviatt

Originally published in Youth Allied By CFIDS, Summer 1996

I recently completed the complex college admissions process, which can become even more complex if you have CFIDS. I'd like to give anyone who is beginning (or thinking of beginning) to apply to colleges some advice on how to do so.

Let me start out by saying that you will get through the process, even though it might not seem like it now. I'm planning to attend Bates College in Lewiston, Maine full time this fall.

Choosing Where to Apply
In addition to considering the usual things, such as programs and academics, when looking at colleges, persons with CFIDS (PWCs) will want to consider some other characteristics, like the distance from home, the physical size and layout of the school, the climate of the area, the campus topography (i.e., are there a lot of hills?), the health facilities and the accommodations the school makes for people with disabilities. For example, I ruled out one Vermont college after I took their campus tour because it was very hilly and in winter those hills would be ice-covered. Also, my interviewer basically told me that the campus really wasn't handicapped accessible and that they wouldn't do much to help me.

You should visit the schools to which you plan to apply. It might be tiring, but it's very important - you will be spending a long time and a lot of money there.

Also, if you can, take a campus tour. It will give you a much better idea of the number of hills and stairs and of the distance between the buildings. You might request an abbreviated tour if there aren't many other people, or leave the tour early. See only what you want to (a dorm room, the library, etc.); don't bother with the athletic facilities, they're usually far away and most of us aren't able to participate in athletics. If you visit at a less busy time, you might get a private tour. I visited one college on the 5th of July and we got a private tour, just my family and the tour guide. I think I got a better feel for the school because of this - it felt more personal.

The Interview
You should also try to have an on-campus interview, preferably when you are there for the tour. I did all of my college visits and interviews the summer before my senior year. The summer wasn't much fun, but it made the next school year much less hectic. It might be a good idea for you to request that your interview be with an admissions officer. I didn't do this, but in several cases I wish I had. I had several student interviews and they didn't go very well. I think students are less likely than adults to understand CFIDS; my interviewers just didn't seem to get it. I did have a good student interview at Clark University because my interviewer's roommate had CFIDS, so he knew all about it. Clark, in Worcester, Massachusetts, is very good about CFIDS; there are several students with CFIDS there and several PWCs got in this year.

I felt that I had to tell the schools I was applying to about my having CFIDS; it explained my unusual high school class load and lack of extracurricular activities. You may decide differently; it's really a personal choice. If you decide to tell them, the best time to bring it up is in your interview. I found it easiest to bring it up when they asked about extracurricular activities or at the end when they asked if I had anything else to say. I usually said something like, "Have you ever heard of chronic fatigue syndrome? Well, I have it." Then I would explain it and/or tell them my story. My guidance counselor gave me some good advice; she said not to walk in and say "Hi, I have CFIDS." It's best to let the interviewer get to know you as a person first.

I asked all of my interviewers what they thought could be done to help accommodate me if I went to their school. After explaining what type of help I might need and telling them what my high school had done, I got pretty informative answers from them. In general, most of my adult interviewers responded well when I told them about my CFIDS. Some even saw it as a strong point of my personality that I was able to deal with this illness. You might even want to discuss how you think you have grown as a person by dealing with CFIDS..

I brought a pocket-sized notebook to each of my interviews. It helps to write down any questions you have ahead of time so you can remember to ask them, even when you're nervous, and to write down things about the school that you want to remember.

Applying to Schools
The best advice I can give you about applying to colleges is to give yourself plenty of time and to be organized. If you wait until the deadlines or don't even know when they are (unfortunately, not all schools have the same deadlines), you're going to cause yourself additional stress which could make your health decline. If you can, apply for Early Decision (you apply to one school and promise to go there if you get in - many schools have this option), Early Action (you apply to one school, but it is not binding if you get in - mostly found at Ivy League or state universities) or Rolling Admissions (you apply at any point up to the deadline and find out as soon as they decide whether you got in - mostly larger state schools do this).

I applied to Bates for Early Decision and was deferred, so I had to apply to other schools in a short amount of time. I used the Common Application and strongly recommend it. At least 40 different schools accept this application, and it is equivalent to a school's own application. If you use the Common Application, be careful about finding out and meeting deadlines; many schools have different deadlines for the submission of different applications and financial aid materials.

Whichever application you use, make a photocopy of the blank form and use it as a rough draft. I gave my completed copy to my dad, who typed it for me. (It helps a lot if you can get someone else to do the typing - you usually have to use a typewriter to fill out the forms.)

The Essay: If you decide to tell colleges about having CFIDS, it makes a good essay topic. Try to focus on your personal experience and don't make your essay too clinical or preachy. If you plan to tell the schools that you have CFIDS but decide not to write your essay about it, make it very clear on your application that you have this illness and that it is why you didn't play three varsity sports or belong to six clubs in high school. However you do it, make it very clear to the schools that CFIDS is the reason behind your unusual high school record.

Recommendations: Get your written recommendations from people who know and understand your situation. Everyone writing recommendations for me understood CFIDS and its effect on my education. Most colleges want teacher recommendations. I was lucky that I was able to attend most of high school and had teachers who would write them for me. If you have tutors, are home schooled or use a correspondence school, ask your tutors or teachers that you had before you became ill to write recommendations. You might wish to ask admissions officers at the schools to which you are applying what they suggest you do about recommendations.

I had my doctor write a brief explanation of CFIDS which I included with my applications, and I also sent several schools a research paper about CFIDS which I had written. It explained the illness and was a sample of my writing. You may want to send something explaining CFIDS (either that you've written or that you have obtained elsewhere). (The CFIDS Association of America has many pamphlets, articles and books which you might wish to use. Two of the best for this purpose are the pamphlets "Understanding CFIDS" and "CFIDS in Children." Call 704/365-2343 or see the "Educational Materials" form included with this newsletter for more information.)

Once you've sent your applications, try not to get too stressed out waiting to hear whether you've been accepted. I know it's much easier said than done, but if you get worried and stressed, you'll only feel worse.

Once You've Decided Where to Go
I'm at this point right now, so I'll just tell you a few of the things I've done. If your financial aid package includes work-study and you are not healthy enough to work, ask the financial aid office if there's another way to get the money. We did this and I was offered a loan.

If you're going to live on campus, talk to the housing office. I requested a centrally located dorm and a room on a low floor. You might also want to consider living in a private room and/or a substance-free or quiet dorm.

People on campus that you might want to talk to include the dean of students and those at the health center and the office for students with disabilities.

I hope that this information is helpful to you as you begin the college application process. Good luck!