<p>Some Colleges have a section for extenuating circumstances and I was wondering how much of a factor that was in admissions and whether things that happened out of high school count. For example: A child's father commits suicide while they are in Grade 8, would a college consider this under extenuating circumstances?</p>
<p>Did the child undergo a period of depression? Did he get epileptic seizures ? Do you even know what “extenuating” means? Look up the word, and decide for yourself if that situation is worth mentioning on a application.</p>
<p>This is absolutely an “extenuating circumstance.” Although it happened before high school, the huge impact of such an event will resonate throughout that child’s life. It might be an appropriate topic for an application essay or certainly for the “Additional Information” section of applications or for an unsolicited supplementary letter.</p>
<p>Keep in mind, however, that although admission committees will sympathize with any applicant who has had to surmount such a huge obstacle, they are, nonetheless, wary of students who are likely to struggle if admitted. So if it appears that the father’s suicide has left the student seriously depressed or suffering from other major problems that he or she might bring with him to campus, then this could affect admission outcomes.</p>
<p>So, ideally, the essay or extra information will highlight the way the candidate has been most successful in dealing with this tragedy.</p>