Additional Info Essay: Extenuating Circumstances Help

OnMyWay2013
Mon, 30 Mar 2015 17:06:29 +0000

So sorry to hear about your father. As for what you should do, is this for the Common App, and are you trying to transfer (since you’re talking about college)?

I’ve heard from other forums that it’s not good practice to put a whole essay in the Additional Information section, or to mention anything like that, because as honest as it is, it may just come off as you trying to make excuses for your grades. The recommendation for most high schoolers with circumstances that affected their GPA is to speak to their guidance counselors. So if you have an advisor that you’re close to, and you still need letters of recommendation, maybe he/she could mention the circumstances and how hard you’ve worked despite that.

Otherwise, sure, you should mention it, but I still think you should shorten it.