<p>(A very) Long story short, my father was an abusive drug addict and alcoholic. He made my childhood pretty.. well, crazy, and as I entered high school, my unstable family life became its worst. </p>
<p>Thus, my grades suffered, especially freshman year. I got a D in Algebra 2 for the first semester and a C for the second. I got a C in Physics for the second semester, as well. </p>
<p>The summer of my sophomore year, my father committed suicide. I refused to get help for my depression and anxiety issues resulting from the event until this year. I am now in therapy and on medication. My grades, of course, have gotten better, as well as my life in general.</p>
<p>Here's the breakdown:</p>
<p>Freshman Year (GPA by semester):</p>
<p>1 & 2: 3.5 UW</p>
<p>Sophomore Year</p>
<p>1: 4.00 W (3.9 UW)
2: 3.88 W (I guess..3.8 UW? I'm not too sure on that.)</p>
<p>This year (junior year), my GPA has been nothing below a 4.0 W (3.8 W). How can I show and tell colleges that my less-than-stellar (or at least, less than what I'm capable of) GPA freshman year is not indicative of my work ethic? I have taken the most rigorous course load that I am allowed as a vocal music student at my performing arts high school which requires that I take at least two classes in my magnet area. Next year I will have six AP classes. I am in the top ten percent of my class (top seven percent, actually). I am very active in the community, have great ECs, etc. </p>
<p>How can I explain my situation? Is this something to even explain, most importantly?</p>
<p>Have your GC mention your father's alcoholism, addiction, suicide, abusiveness it in the GC report. I do not suggest that your GC mention that you are on meds and getting therapy because colleges may wonder about whether you are stable enough to be able to handle moving away from home and going to college. Going away to college is stressful for everyone, but may be particularly stressful for people with preexisting mental health conditions.</p>
<p>I do suggest that you make sure to talk to your therapist about your college plans, making sure that the colleges that you apply to have the kind of support services that you need. Some colleges are in excellent areas such as Philly, NY, DC, Boston, Frisco, which have excellent mental health services. Some are not. Depending on your diagnosis and what is available at the college counseling center, it may be better to continue your treatment off campus than at the college counseling center.</p>
<p>Incidentally, I was a counselor at a college counseling center, and also myself have a history of depression, so I have empathy for your situation.</p>
<p>GC should mention it as per above.</p>
<p>Definitely look in to the mental health services provided. I can't remember which school I visited had this, but one or two offered a set number of counseling sessions per semester.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your response. However, how do I bring these sorts of.. well, non-common knowledge or academic related things up to my GC? I am not particularly close with her. Our school has four GCs and divides them up by magnet area. They recently switched systems from last name to that, and I now have a different counselor. </p>
<p>I am mostly looking at schools in Philly, NY, DC, and Boston, frankly, as I miss big city life. I don't see a therapist regularly, frankly - sort of on a case-by-case basis. I used to see her about every two weeks, but my situation has gotten better since then, so it's been more free scheduled.</p>
<p>Maybe ask to talk to your GC for the specific purpose of discussing your home life. I would hope that the GC would know how to be receptive to a student who needs help and how to help the student, whatever her troubles might be. If the GC isn't understanding, you have three more to try.</p>
<p>I wanted to answer your question to the best of my ability, but if anyone else has better advice or more personal experience, please post.</p>
<p>Part of GC's jobs include helping students cope with personal problems, so don't feel that you'd be inappropriate to let the GC know about what happened in your family.</p>
<p>As is the case for all students applying for college, you should have a one-on-one with your GC. During that appointment, discuss your family background as well as your college and career aspirations. Even if it's not typical at your school for all students to have an individual appointment with their GC, get one. Some schools don't provide much individual help with college apps unless students are very assertive about this. At the very best schools in the country, though, such appointments are routine.</p>
<p>Thank you. I suppose my school is.. I don't know, a bit unorthodox because of the nature of our program, which really limits the amount of free time we have during the day.</p>