<p>what would constitute a legitimate 'extenuating circumstance' that the adcoms would feel isn't just a waste of their time to read about besides a death in the family or illness or moving a lot. would an athletic injury suffered be considered an extenuating circumstance? it had a drastic effect on my involvement in a sport that i wrote my long essay about, and sidelined me for a year, however i didnt want to write the long essay as just a big excuse as why i couldnt participate for a year, i would rather have written about what i found was so great about that sport. is this something i should mention in the extenuating circumstance page?</p>