<p>I've had kinda a rough high school experience with some family issues. Please also note that I am applying a year early. I spent freshman and sophomore year taking care of a sick parent and basically served the role of a part time caregiver. My grades really suffered as a result and my GPA is ~3.55. My test scores aren't great, but not awful; 32 ACT/12 Writing and I took a fairly rigorous course load (APs). I have some ECs: volunteering, founding a non profit but they're not that solid considering the amount of time and energy I had to dedicate to taking care of my dad. Stanford is my dream school but I honestly feel like I'm not even close to up to par with applicant stats. :(</p>
<p>Either write your essay about it or at least mention it in the personal information section (maybe ask your guidance counselor to mention it in his/her rec). They’ll probably be understanding, especially if you write a great essay about it.</p>