<p>I've read all about downward trends and upward trends, but my situation is a little different. My father got a lawsuit in December of my sophomore year. He was sued for a large sum of money and by a woman who claimed he had tried to rape her. I come from a very conservative Asian family where "rape" and "lawsuit" are the two worst words that could possibly be spoken. Obviously, that nearly tore my family apart; my mom was diagnosed for clinical depression. I couldn't talk to anyone about my family situation because to my family, it would be a huge disgrace if the word got out. I had to try to find other outlets to release all the stress I felt at home, so I turned toward photography and literature (they've been my hobbies since I was young) and implanted all my emotions in my artwork and writing. I spent so much time on those activities and helping my mother get through her depression that school became the bottom of the priorities. So, my sophomore year grades ruined my GPA. I received 5 Bs in a row out of 7 classes that year because I had received Cs and Ds the first semester and when I finally got my act together, realized that I was throwing my dream colleges out the window, and tried to pull up my grade, a B was the best thing I could raise it to. </p>
<p>I had all As during freshman year. I'm currently in junior year, and I've gotten 6 As and 1 B. My unweighted GPA is a 3.67. UChicago has been my first choice college ever since I was small; Duke is my second choice. I'm wondering, would my sophomore year ruin my chances? Also, should I ask my counselor to explain my family situation briefly or base an essay on it? Thanks.</p>