So on two of my online college apps, there are sections to explain special circumstances that may have accounted for a drop in grades. I do have circumstances, but I am not sure if they are worthy enough to put on the application.
My parents fight a lot, and they have been fighting for a while now. However, since January (2015), their fighting has gotten a lot worse. They do not believe in divorce, but they are always yelling at each other. My father works in Texas, and he flies back to our home town every weekend to check in with our family. During the summer (June, July, and part of August), he stayed in Texas. My mother, my brother, and I did not see him for two and a half months. One weekend, my father came back. He made it clear he was only there for my brother and me, not my mother. I am trying my best to work past this, but there has been a drop in my grades during the spring semester of 2015.
Should I put this in the “special circumstances” box? I don’t want my parents to know that I’m putting this in there, and I’m afraid that if I do put this in there, the college will view me differently. If I should, how should I word this? I don’t want to portray either parent in a bad light. I don’t know what to do. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I would not. You have a father and mother who both love and provide for you even if they don’t particularly care for each other. Many many people are in far worse circumstances.
Do talk with your college counselor about it and see if he/she thinks it warrants mentioning in your counselor report for your common app. That would be a better place for it, coming from him/her.
Good luck with your applications and remember that its an issue between your parents and it doesn’t reflect on their love for you and your brother. If your brother is younger than you, when you do go off to college, make an effort to keep in touch with him frequently as I’m sure he’ll miss your support in a house full of tension. Be there for each other.
I’m sorry. I’m sure this is making you and your brother sad and I don’t doubt that it is distracting you from your work. As others have said, this is something best dealt with by the guidance counselor in his or her recommendation so you should go talk to that person. If you just can’t share it (and I know from my own experience in high school that I couldn’t tell anyone what was going on at home), you can certainly mention it in the ‘additional information’ section that your parents were unofficially separated as of x date and it’s been a stressful year which impacted you grades. No details, no criticisms - just the fact that you have undergone a serious loss. And to reaffirm doschicos comment, talk to your brother too. I’m sure he’s hurting and would appreciate knowing that he’s not alone in his pain.