<p>Although there were a couple of postings out here last year, not everyone with a C gets cut. One of the kids at my D’s school had at least one C (in a foreign language) in 11th grade. And he still made it.</p>
<p>I don’t know if that is the best use of your essay prompt (just like it wouldn’t be the best for admissions essays). Your school also has a component they fill in – I think who does it varies by school, but you could talk to your school GC about this and see if there is someplace they could comment on the deaths in your family in sophomore year. That also takes the “making excuses” out of your hands (it comes across better if your GC does it). I am not sure what their portion of the form looks like, but you could ask them.</p>