Mentioning my brother's mental illness in "Additional Information" section?

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
1

<p>My older brother has manic depression/bipolar disorder/schizoaffective disorder (psychiatrists tend to change their minds). He's six years older than me, diagnosed in his junior year, and his mental illness has played a big part in my life, with helping me grow as a person, and understanding the duality of people--the same traits that gave him his charisma and aggressive big-picture personality is the same traits that eventually lead to his mental breakdown, emotional instability, and great friends who still hung out at our house even as his life spiraled down. We were always VERY close, even though for 3 years we had very little emotional contact because his mental condition was bad.</p>

<p>My commonapp application, however, shows none of this. With advice from a college counselor who wanted to stress I'm ready for NYU's Stern school of business, my main essay is all about my business background with having parents that own a successful business in Silicon Valley and business partners in Shanghai, my commonapp short answer is of my love of Anime Club, and my nyu short answers are about sex-changing fish/gender, why the new york campus, and academic interests. It doesn't mention how my mother had to leave the business stage for 7 years to take care of my bro, how my dad had an internet affair(conned by a Chinese woman he hadn't realized was simultaneously blackmailing our business overseas), how I've demanded my parents transfer company stock into a trust and my mom, dad, and me meeting with lawyers to try to plan out the inheritance issues, because I've wanted to stick up for my bro especially, future wise.</p>

<p>My counselor rec is written by my vice principal, however, who was also my junior English teacher and my brother's junior English teacher 6 years ago. My teacher rec is written by my Chinese teacher, who also had my bro. I waived my right to see their recs, though, so I don't know if they mention my brother. </p>

<p>Should I add my family info in the additional comments section? Is it appropriate? I only have a day to write this, as my application is due 1/1/2012 Monday night. If I do, I don't want to write an essay--is the opening paragraph good enough? Should I just talk about how my brother has made me a better person or should I add my recent family drama as well? I'm applying early decision to Stern, so I really hope I get in!</p>

<p>Thanks for any advice you can give!</p>

2

<p>I think you’ve covered everything, so leave it be and if you want to mention your brother as an influence, keep it positive about yourself and limited about your brother. While I understand your loyalty and challenges concerning your brother and your family, I think it is too much drama and would take the spotlight away from your achievements. There are other ways you can honor your brother and make sure he is important in your life.</p>

3

<p>Honestly… I would not mention it, unless it has caused you a significant issue with your grades at some point. My opinion is that admissions committees don’t care too much about your family drama (in fact, too much family drama can make them wonder if they would want your family affiliated with their campus). I really can’t see anything in your story that would improve your chances for admissions. It may seem like the most central thing to YOU about your life, but it isn’t helpful in admissions. Just my 2 cents. There is some room for “overcoming adversity” essays, but you are too close to the admissions date to try to walk that fine line, IMHO. Leave it off.</p>

4

<p>Thank you!</p>

5

<p>Yeah–my gut feeling was to leave it all out, but it’s just last minute application blues, ya know? Like my teachers have been telling me: “But wait, what about…” “Should I add…” “YOU’RE DONE ALREADY JUST SUBMIT!”</p>

6

<p>Well… print it out and proofread one more time for typos, etc. Then submit!</p>