<p>I have really really weak ECs. I read a few days ago that if a student was under special circumstances, his lack of ECs can be justified.</p>
<p>Here is my circumstances:
I had to assist my grandparents.
I and my brother did most housework because my parents had to work (my family has low income).
and I had to help my uncle when he repaired his house. sometimes, I had to spend a lot of time for it. for example, I spent entire 2012 summer doing this job.</p>
<p>Do I have to email this information to the college?
I fear if the college view it as a flimsy excuse.</p>
<p>These things are all items you can include in the activities section of the common app to explain how you handle your time when not in class. There is a category in the drop down list of “activity types” for Family Responsibilities. When you fill out the form, you can choose that category and explain the things that you have done. It’s also fine to use the Additional Information section to provide detail, if there isn’t room in the Activity section. </p>
<p>Very few colleges make admissions decisions based on extracurriculars, so at most schools these things will have little or no impact on your chance of admission.</p>
<p>Thank you niceday.
I applied for Middlebury college, which consider, according to Collegedata.com, ECs as very important. Is it better to send or not?</p>
<p>It sounds like you have already applied to colleges and after the fact are thinking of providing this additional information for colleges such as Middlebury to consider. This is a close call, in my opinion. A well written, engaging and very concise email to the appropriate adcom at Midd providing this background might help your application. The tone and content should demonstrate your upbeat attitude while fulfilling commitments to family taking on hard work. It would not help your chances to say this in the way you suggested in your original post (here are my reasons for not participating in more traditional organized high school activities).</p>
<p>I would consider contacting the Middlebury admissions office. Write up an email explaining that it has recently come to your attention that family responsibilities are an extracurricular activity. Then explain your family responsibilities with specifics: hours spent, what you did, etc. Just like you were describing another activity on the Common App or a resume (ie: explain what you repaired on your uncle’s house.)</p>
<p>I would also talk to your guidance counselor. It might be possible for your guidance counselor to contact Middlebury and send an explanation of your situation and include your write-up of family responsibilities. Our guidance counselor sent colleges updates to colleges (including Middlebury) in February about recent awards.</p>