Where to mention something in app

Applying to College
1

Ok, so I’m applying to some upper midrange schools (Cornell is my top choice), I’ve got 1510/4.0/4.78/Poor EC’s. I’ve been told by others to talk about a series of family tragedies (father died, mother went bankrupt then got cancer) in my essays, to show how I’ve overcome adversity. I really think it would be just a another sob story, and don’t think it would particularly help my chances, because to be honest, I really haven’t been affected by that stuff. Now, I would like to mention that I live in such a crappy apartment complex that the hispanic people outside blast their Mexican folk music out of their stereos 24/7 so I have to bike to the library 3 nights a week, coming back at 12 or 1 in the morning rain or shine (well, form the moon). Should I mention this? And if so, how/where?

Also, I’ve got some inheritance from my dad which I can’t really touch till I’m 18, so I’ve got a commisioner of my estate to take care of it untill then. I’ve got an allowance of 3 grand a year to use for school related stuff, and the commissioner basically just checks out that I’m using it for what I say I am. For the past few semesters, I’ve used my inheritance to pay for my UVA classes (I live in Charlottesville). The commissioner guy is a graduate of Princeton, and his daughter’s on the faculty there, therefore my mom is making me apply to Princeton, and she wants me to get a reccomendation from him because he offered to write one, he went to Princeton, and he can say stuff that they wouldn’t know just by my application. But, I’ve never met the dude, and only talked on the phone with him once (my mom handles all the correspondence with him), so I keep telling her it’d be a bad rec. Would Princeton and other colleges see it being as bad a rec as I do?

Whew, thanks for reading all of that, haha.

2

<p>If he is willing to write the rec then by all means accept it. As for where to put that stuff, I'd say your essay isn't just another sob story. Anyone with a heart will be moved by your story and this would also explain your poor ec's. Good Luck and I'm sorry about your hardships.</p>

3

<p>not to be a pest, but why on earth is your library open so late? Are you exagerrating a bit?</p>

4

<p>It's the UVA library. Alderman is open till midnight, and Clemons (across the street from Alderman) is open 24/7 except on Friday and Saturday.</p>

5

<p>There is usually a section for other information that you can put personal factors. Does your GC know about this? The GC rec could include this family info, and then you could briefly mention the situation, and use your main essays for something you would like to write about.</p>

6

<p>I think a recommendation from your GC is the best place for this information. Also, I think it would be more natural for the rec to focus on your family circumstances, not on your neighbors' loud music like you suggest.</p>

7

<p>Probabably a good idea to see if your GC or one of your recommendation writers can get in the tough personal circumstance stuff. </p>

<p>And remember, the key aspects of your essays are not the revelation of personal circumstances and experiences, good or bad, but how you reacted, what you learned and what sort of unique perspective(s) you have developed.</p>

8

<p>wow, your library is open that late?! that's great, ours have to close early because of budget cuts. I get what you mean about not being affected by things other are astonished by. So I compromised and mentioned things in my letters requesting rec's.</p>