How Do I Write About My Extenuating Circumstances?

Applying to College
1

Hello,

I don’t know how to write about my Extenuating Circumstances regarding the drop in my grades during 10th grade. I was in and out of hospitals(over 3 times) do to various mental health issues. How can I write about this without sounding like everyone else who is depressed and anxious?

2

You don’t.

You ask your guidance counselor to cover them in his/her letter.

You own essay is upbeat and gives the reader the desire to meet you, and to have you on his/her campus.

3

I would strongly suggest having your guidance counselor discuss these issues in his/her recommendation letter vs you bringing them up yourself. That way certain blips in your performance are explained, without becoming the defining issue in your application. Best of luck to you!! (btw, I think your GC can simply mention “health issues” and hospitalizations without needing to be any more specific than that.)

4

While I would also suggest discussing this with your guidance counselor, developing an essay that focuses on how you overcame your heath challenges and used it to develop you into a stronger student could be an extremely effective way to address this. Make the focus of the essay as an explanation for how your time in the hospital made you more focused/inspired/dedicated and back up those claims with extracurriculars/improved school performance and ensure that the essay does not read as an excuse for poor performance in school.