<p>gavaroche it seems to me that if you’ve spent a significant amount of time caring for your dad in the last year, you need to mention it. I agree that an essay might be an excellent place to do that. Do any of the prompts provide a good opening? You can tell about it without milking the situation. If you’re using it to get somebody to feel sorry for you, it won’t fly, but if you’re honestly telling what you’ve learned or how you’ve grown in surprising ways, it should be fine. I don’t think you should make it the central feature of your application, but it deserves a good side note.</p>
<p>I’d be happy to have a look at your transcript.</p>