<p>For activities, I have two "family responsiblities". The first is caring for my mentally disabled older brother, business. </p>
<p>I genuinely do spend a lot of time with this, but what concerns me is the fact that I have put caring for my brother as my second most-meaningful activity. (which I think it truly is) But will colleges take this against me?</p>
<p>Also, in my additional information section, I mention that I had a friend who passed away during one of my school years and that it affected me. I mentioned this with no elaboration, but wrote
"(I don't want to get into a lot of detail.)"</p>
<p>Does that look bad?</p>
<p>Thank you in advance!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I understand the first one (and think it is a good EC, put some detail in on the types of care you give if you can). Are you also saying you help out at your family business? That is also a very legitimate EC and you should put it in. Again, put in detail on what you do.</p>
<p>Regarding your friend… I am not sure you should put that in. Sometimes people let their guidance counselors know about that, and ask if they can put something in the GC recommendation about it as a cause for grade issues. You might talk to your guidance counselor about how to handle this item. If it dinged your grades for one semester or year, okay. If it was longer, honestly, it just seems like making excuses and probably will not help to discuss in the app or by the GC.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply.</p>
<p>Just a quick follow-up question…</p>
<p>You said to “put detaill on what I do”. How would I do that? Under the details part of the activity? (Seems obvious, but I’d just like to know)</p>
<p>Yes, put it with the activity. If you don’t have room, use the additional information section of the application. Label it something like: Additional Information on Caring for Sibling: blah, blah, blah… and put in whatever you did not have room for.</p>