<p>My older brother would physically and verbally abuse me at home. I would be doing my homework and he would burst in and call me names and say I'm good for nothing and swear at me for no reason. His girlfriend of several years has broken up with him after seeing how mental and abusive he is and now he has been taking it out on me</p>
<p>When he is angry he would take it out on me and hit me. I have bruises from him and he has given me many beatings on my arms and legs so I would wear sweaters and cover it</p>
<p>My parents dont do anything and refuse to believe my older brother is doing this; they are in denial. I am not angry as my brother used to be good but now he has changed. My parents dont witness it as my brother makes sure to do it when they are not at home. </p>
<p>This has affected my grades as I don't feel safe at home and can't focus on my homework to the best of my ability.</p>
<p>If I were to talk about would they send my brother to jail??</p>
<p>I was wondering if I could write that for the special condition that affects my grades??</p>
<p>I have a 3.5 gpa but I feel like it could be alot higher if I didnt get bullied at home and could focus on my grades and assignments instead of break down and cry. </p>
<p>I am thinking of apply to University Of Michigan and I heard that you shouldn't put social issues like that; like it is frowned upon and they dont want people like that on their campus??</p>
<p>You should discuss this with your guidance counselor or another trusted adult. You need to find a way to keep yourself safe.</p>
<p>Run a search here for romanigypseyeyes (I think I spelled that correctly). That poster is in Michigan and is very familiar with both the universities and social services that would help with your family situation.</p>
<p>I am less worried about your essay and more worried about YOU!</p>
<p>Sibling bullying is becoming a more recognized problem, and definitely affects your health and future happiness. Check out the NY Times, I think the article was yesterday.</p>
<p>It sound like you love your brother, and he needs your help. Maybe he is using drugs or alcohol and is not able to control himself. Later in life he will be very guilty about hurting you.</p>
<p>Reach out to a trusted adult - a teacher, religious figure or school counselor. Your family needs to realize he is having a hard time and work together to help him, and you.</p>
<p>Now that would be something to write your college essay about - how you helped your family and yourself. Colleges don’t want to accept passive victims.</p>
<p>To answer your original question, I would not write about that. Honestly… I think colleges don’t care to hear about internal “family dirty laundry”. I don’t mean to downplay your difficulties at all, but would not put them in your college essay. It would be too easy for it to come off as making excuses, too. You are more as a human being than someone who reacts or is affected by your brother’s bad behavior. Find those other facets of yourself and write and essay to reveal one or more of them.</p>
<p>Talk to your guidance counselor, ASAP. You need to worry about you first, then your family. It sounds like your brother has mental health issues that need to be addressed, and you reporting this may be the only way he gets the help he needs - and you get the help you need. </p>
<p>If this has significantly impacted your grades (it very well could have) let your guidance counselor address it in the school report. Unless the school report or a teacher recommendation mention it, reporting it in your essay will come across as a cop out. If you were to address it in the essay, it should be written to show what you have done to cope with it, and how it has caused you to grow as a person. No matter how valid it is, if you use it as an excuse, but have done nothing to make it stop, it won’t go over well.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about your brother - get him the help he needs.
Don’t worry about your parents - they don’t seem too worried about you (or your brother). Maybe they’re embarrassed by what he is doing, but they should still do something about it. Since they won’t, it’s up to you.</p>
<p>Is your brother at home, or does he go away to school? </p>
<p>To help with your immediate situation, is there a way you could be home less when your parents are not at home, so that you minimize the time you are home with your brother? Could you perhaps study at the library, or at friends’ homes, saying that you need to work on projects or papers?</p>