<p>One of the questions our school makes us answer so that the GCs can write a letter of recommendation is whether or not we have encountered any difficulties in life, its effect, and how we overcame it. </p>
<p>When I read the question, a personal difficulty relating to my family immediately came to mind, but I don't think I'm comfortable enough sharing it with my GC. It's one thing to tell the story to a random admission officer in an essay, but it's another to tell it to someone you know. </p>
<p>However, by telling the story, it might shed some light on the stress that I encountered during the year and why my GPA that year was about 2 points lower than my normal GPA. </p>
<p>If you share it, the GC can mention it in their rec without you having to devote space in your application to it or risking that you come across a making excuses for a dip in grades. When an application essay is focused on overcoming a family issue, it can appear that this is the defining event in this student’s life, which may or may not be the impression you want to create. (Sometimes it is the defining event for someone, so the essay can be the right place for this - I’m not ruling it out.) </p>
<p>Another option is to mention it briefly in the ‘additional info’ part of the application. It’s at the very end and often left blank. Last option, if you are close to any of your teachers who are writing you letters of rec, is to mention it to him or her - but again, you risk the possibility of misdirecting attention from what a great student you are/asset to the campus you’d be - to an explanation of a dip in grades. Often not worth it.</p>
<p>Maybe I am wrong, but I think that the OP is a bit nervous about divulging her personal issue to the GC and possibly having it discussed with others… not too sure. I totally understand that you want to keep things private if this is the case. It can be a tough call. Can you just tell schools and NOT the GC? How does that work? Will the GC see the app?</p>