Help With "Additional Information" Section of CommonApp

Applying to College
1

<p>So this post in no way is trying to extract pity out of anyone, but a blunt inquiry about my application. Due to extenuating circumstances(physical illnesses) I had spent about 2 years of high school in the hospital and at home. This resulted in my GPA falling quite a bit, from A's to C's, and having to take less courses, and easier courses (Many not available via online or homebound). Long story short, I went from all honors to getting enough credits to graduate in 4 years. I'm currently in senior year and sitting on around a 3.0 GPA UW, with a 36 ACT. What I'm wondering is how I should go about describing the situation under the common app to colleges. </p>

<p>What I'm wondering is how I should go about describing the situation in the common app. I don't want to try and make it seem like the only reason my GPA and difficulty of courses is at said point is due to the illness, it was definitely the driving force. Should I restrain from going too detailed? Or should I use specific diagnoses? I've yet to meet someone in a similar situation besides at the hospital, and it's currently a vague area for me. </p>

<p>If anyone has any suggestions or experience, it would help a lot.</p>

<p>,Kirk</p>

2

<p>Definitely include this in the application. You could consider putting it into the “education interruption” section they have, but if it was at the point where you were still going to school but barely, yeah it’s probably best to put it into add. info.</p>

<p>Do a very brief explanation, no more than a sentence or two. During [time] I suffered from [illness] which caused me to be absent from school for long time periods.</p>