<p>i was unable to participate in extracurriculars during my 9th and 10th grade years because i had a little sister to watch over and we couldn't afford any afterschool/daycare stuff for her. i also forgot to mention this in all of my apps... think mentioning this could have helped me?</p>
<p>It might have, especially if mentioned in the GC report.</p>
<p>Yes, it would have helped you. Colleges do understand when students can't do ECs because of family responsibilities. Taking care of a sibling requires more maturity and responsibility than many ECs.</p>
<p>Colleges dont really care if you did any EC's in 9th, but you prob. should of done it in 10th-12th, but im sure if you gave them a reason it would of helped.</p>
<p>Mentioning it... or at least someone writing a rec mentioning it would have helped fill in the gap. For all the college knows right now, you may have just gone home everyday and played video games (not that video games are bad, mind you). But yea... mentioning it wouldn't have "guaranteed" anything, but would have helped a little.</p>