<p>My (older, middle-aged) sister has cerebral palsy, and therefore is severely physically and mentally disabled (confined to a wheelchair, mental retardation, no motor skills, et cetera). Since both our parents work long hours, I've been primary caretaker since I was very young. (especially during the summer months, when I can be the only person she'll interact with for weeks at a time).</p>
<p>Now, obviously I'm not about to cite this as volunteer work; however, it does take up an extremely large portion of my time outside of school, and it has proved to be an incredibly enriching and enlightening experience, so I'd really like to mention it. The trouble is that I'm not sure how to include it without sounding like I'm reaching, or trying to benefit from my sister's misfortunes.</p>
<p>Suggestions?</p>
<p>family obligations and then explain the situation and the duties and responsibilities, adcoms will see the sacrifice you made in order to watch over your sister.</p>
<p>I’m sorry about your sister though.</p>
<p>Actually, it is a form of community service/volunteer work. When S1 was in high school, we had elderly neighbors and he put a lot of time into helping them with a lot of things. He noted this on his app by putting it down as community service and then explaining it later on in the app. Although these sorts of things rarely receive specific feedback from colleges, at least one outside scholarship he received – which used an app quite similar to the Common App – specifically cited it as a reason they gave him their award. So yes, I would definitely mention it, if for no other reason than to account for your time, which is crucial. When college ask about community service and ECs, what they are asking is, “What is it you do with your time?” If, in your case, one of those things is helping your sister, then you would be remiss in not mentioning it, for you would leave the schools with nothing more to assume than “he/she must just be lazing around doing nothing a lot of the time.” Don’t want that if it’s not true. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>