<p>how much do extenuating circumstances play in the admissions process?</p>
<p>Depends on what the extenuating circumstances are! Are you in jail? Supporting your family with your after school job? Were hospitalized for anorexia or depression? Your college counselor will have to work with you on how to best present your personal circumstances.</p>
<p>If you kill a guy, you aren't expected to finish high school.</p>
<p>Extenuating circumstances should be included in an essay, and if possible, commented upon by the GC in his/her app.</p>
<p>Of course, adcoms will take them into account. When discussing them, the applicant should not make them sound like an excuse, and should emphasize who much they have learned from the experience, become a better person, overcome the obstacle so that it is no longer a problem, etc.</p>