<p>In the common app after the first essay, there is a box where you can include additional information about special circumstances and stuff so i wrote about both my parents being unemployed and having to change our lifestyle and stuff like that. My question is, Will the counselors look at it unfavorably thinking that im trying to seek sympathy from them?</p>
<p>Write what you have to write I think.</p>
<p>No, I think that the admissions counselors will, in fact, be sympathetic. A well-written, subtle short essay about a student who overcomes dire circumstances can be very impressive.</p>
<p>Its just my personal opinion but I dont think you should include that.</p>
<p>Your financial evaluators will derive that info from the tax report.</p>
<p>Also when I think of special circumstances its those that either elevate your standing out of the other surrounding applications and not necessarily meant for someone to pity you.
I think its really for disabled people, outstanding students, or stellar athletes. </p>
<p>Its never a good idea to write something that looks like your trying to get in by sympathy. You have to hold your head up high. Although you can acknowledge some difficult situations, write about how you overcame that, what you learned from it, and what the ultimate effect it had on your life.
Thats what I wrote about in my common app essay and I got in!
Also i didnt write anything in the “special circumstances” section. Its “extra” information.</p>
<p>Remember these people will only look at your app for a few minutes at the most. You have to stand out, as a proud accomplished student rather than one thats looking for sympathy.</p>
<p>So my advice is DONT WRITE THAT! primarily because it doesnt show your accomplishments, your understanding, your overall growth from a harrowing experience.
Simply put: Emory is not looking for weak-willed applicants (not saying that you are but it may look like that if you include that) but strong, determined students that will benefit Emory in the future.</p>
<p>Hope it helps and I know what you are going through. Ive been through that recently :)</p>
<p>I think it really depends on how you write it.
My commonapp essay was about how my mother is my role model. She was diagnosed with cancer when I was a junior.
I wrote about how it changed me to become a mature person and her role in my life.</p>
<p>If you focus on its effects (and by this i mean POSITIVE effects), it may help you.</p>
<p>I think you should write that when you apply for the financial aid. while emory says they are need-blind who knows, and they have to read a lot of stuff anyways so you know what I mean?</p>
<p>Thanks for all the replies guys! Yeah i sort of regret writing about that in the box, but dwelling on that isnt going to help me in anyway. Will it effect my app dramatically though thats the question?</p>
<p>I think it’s a decent thing to mention. I think that I’d want to know if I were an admissions officer. I bet they can tell the difference from a sincere applicant who is being thorough by explaining a major part of their recent experience, and an applicant who wallows in self-pity/feels entitled to admission as a consolation prize.</p>