<p>bobmallet1, I think I speak for all of us in this thread when I say this:</p>
<p>Shut up</p>
<p>OP,
We have been in a very similar scenario. What we did was raise the issue when we met with the GC to discuss recommendation letters (at my son's school, the GC meets with kids and parents at the end of junior year). She asked for some info on how we have dealt with my illness as a family, and will incorporate this into her letter. This is a method we were all pretty comfortable with, as my son had no intention of discussing this in a college application essay, yet it seems relevant to who he is and how/why he has become the person he is today. In this context, raising the issue is clearly an <em>explanation</em> -- and not presented as an excuse.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you and your family...</p>
<p>P.S. A 3.6 is nothing to sneeze at, esp. in these circumstances.</p>
<p>If you think Northwestern isn't on par with Dartmouth and Penn educationwise you're a moron.</p>
<p>A 3.6 will get you into many wonderful schools, so don't fret or stress that you won't get into college, you will....</p>
<p>sorry for all that is going on, just know that you have done great, and that you will have lots of options for many wonderful schools if you plan right and apply to a mix of schools</p>
<p>the few "top schools" that many on this site focus so much time on and base their opinions are are crapshoots for everyone, so sometimes posters' opinions are skewed</p>
<p>So, just keep doing your best, and it will work out, college wise</p>
<p>And I am so sorry your family is having to deal with this illness, remember to hug each other all the time and don't be afraid to confide in your counselor, teacher, coach, friends if you need to</p>