<p>I do not want to give many details; I'm paranoid about my identity getting out. I would hate for this to somehow affect me in the future. </p>
<p>My question is simple: Will the prestigious universities, like M.I.T, Caltech, Harvard, Yale and other similar universities, understand the situation of a severely abusive homelife if explained to them? I have never been in foster care, but I had to leave my home (it is a long, long, long, long story). </p>
<p>Will people understand or do I sound like some stupid girl trying to gain leverage due to her situation? Like one of those "at-risk kids going to ivy league" wannabes (someone called me that)? And because I never went to foster programs/homeless shelters/etc, does that count me out for any real consideration for my situation?</p>
<p>Because of my home life, I struggle in EC's due to my family, but I am perfect in testing, and I have a way above average trascript and course history.</p>
<p>I will be able to get back into EC's once I get out of my home situation, but I'm a little late - I won't be doing any major leaps in rankings or anything.</p>
<p>We aren’t in poverty, so I won’t fill any financial quota. I’m not a minority either. But neither of my parents went to college, if that helps.</p>
<p>Anyway, I am thinking of putting my background into an essay, if possible. I’m still not sure how to write about it nor where to put it. I wish I could just ignore it, but it is a huge part of my life. If it didn’t existed, I could of done SOOOO much more with myself. </p>
<p>I’m concerned about the word limit on the essays, for it is a complex situation. Drugs, death, severe mental disorders, abandonment, swords, you name it, It has happened to me, but we’ve kept it hidden from the outside world, because I sincerely do not want to get put into foster care and the family doesn’t want other people to know. However, my life has been hell because of it. Absolute hell. And I have no one. Not One. Single. Person. </p>
<p>My main concern is the lack of god EC’s… I have nothing that is on a huge achievement level. I just am really trying to focus on shooting myself ahead academically, like the complete academic amazing package with 100 perfect test scores, all college work, and hopefully some national olympiad competions <em>fingers crossed</em></p>
<p>If you didn’t have access to activities throughout your childhood, they will not, I repeat, will not hold that against you. Make sure you talk about it in your essays.</p>
<p>Make sure you have brilliant grades and try to find research opportunities that aren’t expensive to add to your resume. (If you are trying to get into MIT) Then, explain your situation in your essays and you’ll be a shoe-in! :)</p>
<p>Thank you for the kind replies. So, how can I go about getting research experience? We have quite a few universities in my area that I can reach by bus, so I don’t have to worry about my parents as much, but I’m not sure how I would exactly go about doing it.</p>