For 2 years (2013 and 2014), my aunt and three cousins lived with my family of five. So, we had nine people in the house under the same salary ($100k), and it was very stressful for us all (they’re family, though, so I was okay). It was especially difficult because these were their first years in AMERICA. The NATION. I know, right?
Where would I put this on my application, and should I put this on my resume? What exactly is something like this called?
Thanks for your help. 
Sorry but at a 30000 foot altitude glance, it seems your family never lived near or under the poverty line for a period. I’m not quite understanding your request for special dispensation.
I don’t think it should or would go anywhere on your resume or application but it might make an interesting essay.
Take a family of four struggling with a 50k salary…then take more than twice as many people with twice the salary under one roof. I had to help out a lot, guide my cousin through school, scale back on involvement… I’m still very blessed, but it was by no means easy. I also have an older sister already in college. Goodness, I hate money.
random me moment: Where are you going? I love mountains. Wave to one for me. 
Okay, that’s what I thought! Yes, that’d look awkward. Thanks for the clarification!
I don’t mean to be unsympathetic about your temporary situation. The US Census bureau says that the poverty line for a family of nine with 6 minors is $47,134 for 2013.
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/data/threshld/thresh13.xls
If you halved your income, then you might have been at the poverty line --no cable or internet. food stamps. Food pantry donations. Medicare. Public transportation. Intermittent water, electricity, gas shutoffs. 8A housing maybe. Goodwill/Salvation army clothing. This is poverty.
I went to school with kids who ate a handful of grapes for the day. I’m sorry but your perspective warrants review.
Oh no, most certainly not poverty, I would not claim that… I’m just wondering if I could get a couple thousand more in financial aid. Sorry for being so unclear!
Fin aid is about your current and future circumstances.
Ah. The whole fin aid based on 1 yr thing…
Thanks for sticking w this thread; I understand my standing better. Much appreciated!
Although it may not help financial aid status, you should total mention how you helped your cousin and family. It could make for a great essay or you could have your gc mention it.
@meepmoop - The Special Circumstance paperwork for the financial aid office is something that you would file if your family’s financial situation took a drastic turn for the worse after your financial aid package had already been issued. For example: if the breadwinner’s job had been lost or if there had been sudden unexpected medical expenses not covered by insurance. Had you been in college at the time your aunt and cousins were living with your family, that might have been something that could have been discussed with the financial aid office, but it might not have resulted in any increased aid.
Each year the financial aid paperwork is filed based on income from the previous year and assets at the time of filing, so what happened to your family in the past is not something that matters to the financial aid office. To learn more about Financial Aid, spend some time in that forum. Many of the posters there are well-informed about the issues and can help you and your parents understand the process.
scubaaf makes an excellent point: what you learned about adapting to life in a new country, and what you learned about getting along with extended family members crowded under one roof, could serve as basis for a thoughtful and well-written essay for of your applications.