Should I even bother puting this?

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
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<p>In the additional information section, should I even bother putting this?</p>

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<p>Circumstances during junior year due to my exchange from Japan:
After my exchange from Japan I had the choice of either reenrolling in my old high school or a new one. Being my junior year, I wanted to go to a school where they offered the IB program and could prepare me for college; unfortunately there weren’t any schools in my vicinity that offered the IB program. The nearest school was Interlake High School in Bellevue, Washington, which is about one in half-hours drive away from where I lived. Despite that I still wanted to enroll in the school. Therefore for the first month of my junior year I attended Interlake High School, hoping to graduate with an IB diploma and the readiness for college. However, due to family issues and the complications with the transportation, I had to withdraw from the school only a month later of my enrollment. In the end I reenrolled in my previous school and enrolled into the Bio-Med smaller learning community in hopes that it would offer me the most rigorous classes available. I thus then took three of the four AP classes offered and planned on taking the fourth one during my senior year. Upon senior year I had hoped on taking AP Composition but due to the lack of students enrolled in the class it was cancelled. The only other time they had offered the class was during my required senior civics class; consequently enough I opted out and decided to further my learning through Running Start. </p>

<h2> I’d also like to explain why my math grades and scores are intolerably low. During freshman year I was moved up to sophomore math. Due to that I missed the second semester of freshman math and the first semester of sophomore math. Furthermore, during my second semester of sophomore year I went on an exchange to Japan, consequently missing second semester of math. As a result I have missed certain math concepts that have disabled me to perform my best. That is why during this past summer I took math classes at the local community college to learn these missed concepts. In conclusion, I just wanted to point out that, I may not be the best math student but that has not stopped me from taking challenging courses such as calculus, as I strive to learn and understand the material despite the difficulties I have encountered. </h2>

<p>ahh yes my school sucks >_< oh well.</p>

<h2>help?</h2>

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<p>I would explain the stuff about switching math classes (fresh -> soph) but nothing else.</p>

<p>The school stuff should be evident from SSR that guidance counselor fills out. ASk him/her to explain to colleges as well. </p>

<p>The stuff about the Japan exchange makes it sound like you put ECs before school. That looks bad. Colleges may feel you should have put academics first if you were struggling. And they will see from the transcript that you took CC classes in HS, which will look good.</p>

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<p>It’s good to explain these things, but the posted explanation is too wordy and rambling imho (my eyes started crossing a few sentences in) and seems to border on whining.</p>

<p>Instead, just state the facts: You exchanged to Japan, which interrupted some of your coursework, particularly the accelerated math. You struggled for a while, but made up the material at a local community college. You enrolled at a distant school for IB, but couldn’t stay enrolled because you couldn’t get transportation. Despite these setbacks, your academic qualities are evident in your AP record, your senior grades, and your community college transcript.</p>

<p>Short and sweet. No excuses, just explanation, and evidence that whatever problems you had are now resolved. And if you can score well on a math SAT subject test, sign up right now to take it in January. That way you’ll be able to send them an update bolstering your story if you get wait-listed.</p>

<p>Oh… and I wouldn’t make much over the freshman-sophomore thing. If you moved to an accelerated class, it’s expected that you would have picked up those concepts on your own. I’d keep it focused on the Japan thing, and keep it focused on how you’ve overcome the setbacks and grown from your experience.</p>

<p>Yes, I’m essentially contradicting the only other feedback you received. Sorry bout that. Ultimately it’s up to you to decide. Good luck!</p>