"Additional Information" Section on Common App

Hello,

My sister has been a hardcore drug addict for years (almost died multiple times from heroin overdoses) and my family has been pretty mentally unstable. Though her drug abuse doesn’t require me to spend a LOT of my time caring for her, it has taken a heavy toll on my family. I make no mention of this in my essays, but do you think it’s worth including under the “Additional Information” section on the Common App? I would not be telling this to my college counselor because she also coached my sister and she would be heartbroken if she found out. Do you think admissions officers will just think I’m trying to make a sob story of myself??

This is definitely something you should mention. It will not sound like a sob story, just you being upfront about the circumstances that you’ve gone through.

I hope your sister gets better. And best of luck to you.

I am sorry to hear about your sister. Is there a particular reason you feel the need to mention this? Have your grades been rocky due to instability, or some other circumstance that warrants an explanation? If so, then mention it. If not, I wouldn’t.

I agree with @Lindagaf – unless it has had an impact on your grades etc. there is no need to mention it. You want to give colleges every reason to want you on campus and I don’t see what this would add to your application.

That said, I do hope that she is able to recover.

It hasn’t affected my grades but it has definitely taught me a level of compassion and responsibility. I find myself being able to understand and sympathize with other people’s problems, whereas before this addiction began I was pretty self-unaware and closed-minded. Still think I should leave it out?

It hasn’t affected my grades but it has definitely taught me a level of compassion and responsibility. I find myself being able to understand and sympathize with other people’s problems, whereas before this addiction began I was pretty self-unaware and closed-minded. Still think I should leave it out?