<p>Is it wise to put a hard family situation on your application? It's not that my parents all had life-threatening diseases or we lived out of a car for two years, but my parents have drinking and gambling problems and it's been a very shaky household. This year my mom and step dad are separating and i'll probably be living in an apartment alone so my mom can go be with her boyfriend four hours away. Mom is unemployed and step-dad is disabled, dad has gambling problem etc. We're selling our house and we filed for bankruptcy, but i've pulled through it considerably well. My counselor and teacher make a big deal out of it, but is it something I should explain on applications? [I'm applying to Pitzer and Pomona College]</p>
<p>Let your counselor write about it, you write about something positive you’ll bring to schools.</p>
<p>I agree with Redroses. The exception would be for something like if your family problems have led you to select something like addictions counseling as your future field. That could be a good subject for your essay.</p>