HELP! Special Circumstances, Additional Qualifications, etc.

<p>Hello everyone.</p>

<p>I am sure that this portion is already the "hot topic" of the Common App, but I am unsure about what I should write.</p>

<p>"Include any additional information that you would like to provide regarding special circumstances, additional qualifications, etc.</p>

<p>Under the guise of "special circumstances", I was considering writing about bing forced to leave High School for medical reasons, hence the lack of consistency in HS grades, no class rank and receiving a degree from an adult school. This would also encompass the reasons why I was not a member of any clubs and EC's in HS.</p>

<p>Would this be appropriate? I am aware that most individuals hold the opinion that this section should be used as location for a resume. However, shall I explain my medical history in order to explain my lack of an "orthodox" HS record??</p>

<p>bump…</p>

<p>Hi 123freeup, I’m as clueless about this thing as you are, but that sounds just fine! It spefically says ‘special circumstances’ and you have very special circumstances. You can include a resume as well if you’d like.</p>

<p>I would also like to bump this thread because I have another question about this section: Is it appropriate to write about how much I’ve grown as a person over the course of my high school career? I wouldn’t be giving an excuse for anything on my app, I would just like to point out that I had spent a lot of time in reflection, meditation, therapy, forced risk-taking, etc, in order to get over some trauma I had experienced and some dysfunctional behaviors I had formed. Do you think it’d be possible for me to put this in a way that didn’t sound whiney? Also how much detail about the dysfunctional behaviors should I go into?</p>

<p>Did your dysfunctional behavior affect your grades/performance in a negative way? Then that needs to be explained, and now you can say you’ve put it all behind you. Put a positive spin on it. If your behavior has not had a negative affect, then why bring it up? Unless, is something about your experience that would make you more attractive to the college?</p>