<p>I want to major in Engineering/Computer Science. I'm going to high school and have really good grades and relatively good ECs. So the thing is, I have an extremely disabled sibling. (By extremely, I mean cannot do anything by themselves and need constant care). Will colleges value me more as an applicant if in my essay I write more about how I was able to overcome the hardships of this and still be able to do well at school and outside of school?</p>
<p>It’s possible you might be able to make the experience of growing up with a profoundly disabled sibling the basis for a really good essay, but I think the angle you’re proposing isn’t the right approach. “[H]ow I was able to overcome the hardships of [my sibling’s disability]” takes the story of your sibling’s difficult circumstances and makes it all about you. Doesn’t that seem kind of callous and self-centered?</p>
<p>Haha sorry, I didn’t mean it in a self-centered way. When I said that, I meant working together with my sibling to solve problems and facing hardships along the way. I obviously do love my sibling.</p>
<p>That could work great for the essay but I agree you need to change the angle unless you are a child caregiver and spend most of your time taking care of the sibling. Then you could talk about the challenges of balancing the sibling’s care and your life. If you just live with them then what you suggested (how you overcame their difficulties) is probably not the best idea.
I would say find a new angle that includes your sibling and if you have grown from them or pick another topic that means something to you. You can write a great essay about any topic that will have you valued just as much</p>
<p>I know where you’re trying to go with a topic like this, I know exactly what you’re trying to write about.</p>
<p>My advice: Write about the experience itself. Tell how things go in the day to day, have you had to make any sacrifices? Are you learning from this experience? Do you feel as if you’re making a difference in that person’s life? (That one should be a no brainer).</p>
<p>Show your growth, but at the same time, let them into a slice of your life. Make sure you do justice to the person and experience you’re writing about, like others have said, don’t let the focus of the essay be totally you.</p>
<p>It’s a difficult balance to find, and if you’re not able to, you might leave your Guidance Counselor to mention it in your application. The only drawback to this is that you’re the only one with your perspective, you’ll be the only one who can bring what you’re going through to life in a couple hundred words.</p>
<p>Get family especially to look it over.</p>
<p>Good luck in your college admissions! And great job on taking care of your sibling, that is no easy task! Respect!</p>
<p>Agree with the others. If you take the right approach, it could be a powerful and self-revealing essay.</p>