I really need advice? Please?

<p>So, since Freshman year, my parents have worked conflicting schedules (Mom works 6 - 5, Dad works 2:30 - 10) - so between 2:30 - 6 (Mom takes public transportation home, and unfortunately, the Orange Line in Boston isn't always timely), my little sister would hypothetically be unsupervised. My parents tried putting her in daycare but it was about 240 dollars a week which was too heavy of an expense for us, so my parents thought it best if I went home everyday and babysat her - which I did.</p>

<p>I've been doing such for the past 4 years, every single day. As you can imagine, this has been a huge barrier on the extracurricular front. The majority of my extracurriculars are one time things that are outside of school (since I can't make it to regular sports practices or club meetings.) The only good thing about my extracurriculars is that they're virtually all focused on public policy, politics, and law - despite being few and far between. I've racked up a few city, state, and one national award, including published pieces in local literature and whatnot. But I don't have anything that I've done consistently - because my internships all come to an end, as well as Model UN competitions, etc. They aren't a continuous thing. </p>

<p>My GC described this in her letter and I myself explained it in the Additional Information section of the Common App -- I was wondering if this was going to be a detriment in college admissions?</p>

<p>Side note: My grades and scores are strong for the most part, along with rank and whatnot. </p>

<p>My GC told me in her office that "the circumstances aren't the best" which to me translated as "you're probably going to a state school."</p>

<p>Oh, and by state school, I mean UMass Boston - not UNC Chapel Hill or UCLA, lol.</p>

<p>In the Additional Information Section - I wrote a short essay (about 250-300 words) explaining how babysitting taught me the importance of honoring responsibilities to my family unit and the virtues of balancing school and family. I talked about how I was unable to go after school to get extra help from teachers, so instead, I’d go really early in the morning or I’d find other ways to ensure academic success despite hinderances.</p>

<p>Bumpity bump.</p>

<p>I have no experience in this, but I’ve read in the admissions sections of several elite schools that they do take this stuff into consideration and won’t hold it against you. You’re allowed to have family responsibilities. People get that.</p>