<p>for the "Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences" essay, im thinking about writing about my family life. As the oldest child of a blended family of 9, i feel like my responsibilites and daily challenges at home have shaped me more than anything. Is family life okay for an EC? or is it too risky? must i focus on a more tangible EC? thanks</p>
<p>I don’t think family life is an EC. Writing about it will suggest that you don’t have any ECs that are important to you.</p>
<p>hmmm, alright thats what I was worried about. Thanks</p>
<p>I actually think this topic, if done correctly, could be a wonderful, personal addition to your application. I agree that it shouldn’t be for the extracurricular short essay, but perhaps you could use it for the supplement essay?</p>
<p>If you really do have much to say, more than you can fit, then consider using it as one of your 500 word essays.</p>
<p>Here’s a great example (He’s in Yale class of 2015):</p>
<p><a href=“https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sJL2NJo_dTHjgSORJ7pa4p7ooVttSlebTmQzaTSTypg/edit?hl=en&authkey=CKnBgRU[/url]”>https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sJL2NJo_dTHjgSORJ7pa4p7ooVttSlebTmQzaTSTypg/edit?hl=en&authkey=CKnBgRU</a></p>
<p>OP, please follow your instincts and write about something that makes you uniquely you for your main essay. My son met his adcom at Bulldog Days and she not only remembered his essay, but also the names of family members he had written about that she wanted to meet. ECs are a much more worked-over topic than your family situation.</p>
<p>The prompt asks for information about an EC or work experience. That’s what you should write about. Your family situation may make for a good additional essay. But when you have a specific prompt, you should respond to the prompt.</p>
<p>I’m with Hunt and others. Gotta remember that adcoms do remember info about certain kids, much the same way you can run into your 6th grade teacher and he’ll remember you have a brother. </p>
<p>The point is to let them see how you choose, how you were affected by the EC or work experience you choose. They want to see how you will integrate into college life, some extra perspective you can offer. You’re a joiner, leader, team player, open to new challenges, curious, whatever. I think there’d be a difference if you could show how you had a job through the family business and how that had an impact on you. Or, if responsibilites for your blended family led you to start a tutoring program for neighborhood kids. The answer should show strengths relevant to college life and college challenges.</p>
<p>Just to clarify: there is a prompt to describe an EC or work experience and then a separate list of topics, including “one of your choice” for the 500 word essay. I agree you should write about an EC where requested and go with your family life for your main essay.</p>
<p>Some years ago a kid on CC had gotten into a very competitive college (HYPS level). She had said that she had no ECs outside of her very considerable duties towards her family, especially a sibling with some disability. </p>
<p>So if OP doesn’t have really significant traditional ECs and/or work experience then I think it would be fine to write about the family life.</p>
<p>After all, family responsibilities are not part of the curriculum in school, and it also sounds like there is work involved. So OP would indeed be responding to the prompt.</p>
<p>Quick question:</p>
<p>I was planning on writing about a play that I wrote in 8th grade and was performed both for the school and for a senior citizen’s home. Is this okay, even though it was in Middle School?</p>