<p>Hello, I'm working on my common app and I was wondering if I should include a praragraph or so in the additional information section about my responsibilities at home with a younger brother and separated parents and some other stuff. My cocern though, is whether or not it will sound too much like an excuse. SHould I even bother including something like that? Just fyi, I am applying to some top schools, including Ivy League one). What do you think. Thanks!</p>
<p>Counselors have the option to talk about that in their recommendation letters for you, you can always talk to your counselor and see if they would include it in there. In my opinion it’s not good to give excuses for grades or whatever it sounds a little desperate, you want to come off as a strong applicant not an applicant whose begging for admission.</p>
<p>I don’t think you should include that in the additional info. section. it does sound a bit like excuses. colleges already know that people have to deal with personal circumstances. imagine if everyone included theirs. it makes it the application longer and makes the job harder for the adcoms</p>
<p>Hi GetExcited,</p>
<p>While it’s true that your high school counselor can talk about these special circumstances is his/her letter of rec, as raqbau suggests, relying on this doesn’t always work for all students. Is your counselor aware of your circumstances at home? If not, make an appointment with him/her and let him/her know what’s been going on.</p>
<p>It’s also true that, as stressedouttt says, admissions people don’t want to read excuses, and don’t want applications to be too long.</p>
<p>However, sometimes including information about special circumstances in the “Additional Information” section can help create a fuller picture of who you are as a person and as a student. I have had many students who have done so, and if you do it correctly, it won’t work against you. Some guidelines:</p>
<p>1) Ask yourself how special your circumstances truly are. You mention a younger brother and separated parents. Those facts in themselves are not that unusual. Do you have significant hours of responsibility each week that others your age do not? Has their been a special emotional toll?</p>
<p>2) Do not make excuses. Present the facts (such as what your family responsibilities have been at home), and let the reader draw conclusions from them. </p>
<p>3) Take responsibility for your own choices and what was in your control. If you chose to avoid a heavy course load or didn’t always complete your work, be up front and say so.</p>
<p>4) Look back with a critical yet positive eye. Did you gain valuable experience or learn lessons from what you went through? Would you do things differently, or the same way if given the chance.</p>
<p>5) Look forward with optimism. How will you bring what you have learned from your special circumstances to college with you?</p>
<p>It can be a very fine line, and an essay like this has to be crafted very carefully. But I have worked with students who have managed to address all kinds of issues this way.</p>
<p>Good luck with your applications!</p>