Describing leadership role in family responsibilities for common app

Hey, so I've had major family responsibilities for a while now and I'm not quite sure how to describe my position/leadership in those on my common app. Could someone share some tips or examples on how to explain this sort of thing? I'd really appreciate it!

Hello! It's great that you want to highlight your family responsibilities and the leadership skills you've gained through them on your Common App. Here are a few tips and examples on how to describe and emphasize your role effectively:

1. Be specific: Clearly state the nature of your family responsibilities, such as taking care of younger siblings, helping with household chores, or assisting a family member with a disability. This will give the admissions committee a clearer picture of the context and extent of your commitment.

Example: "For the past three years, I've been responsible for supervising and helping my three younger siblings with their homework, meal preparation, and daily routines while my parents work in the evenings."

2. Highlight the leadership skills you've developed: Discuss particular skills or traits you've gained or refined through your family responsibilities, such as time management, communication, empathy, and decision-making.

Example: "Through balancing my siblings' diverging needs and schedules, I've developed strong time management and multi-tasking abilities, as well as honed my communication skills to handle conflicts and encourage collaboration."

3. Reflect on the impact your role has had on you and your family: Share the positive outcomes of your leadership in terms of personal growth, the well-being of your family, or any challenges you've successfully overcome together.

Example: "My involvement has not only allowed my parents to work and maintain financial stability for the family, but also taught me the value of leadership and the importance of fostering a supportive, cohesive family environment."

When filling out the Common App, you can list your family responsibilities as an extracurricular activity. When describing the activity, be concise yet specific about your involvement. You can provide further details and reflection in the additional information section or even explore the topic more deeply in one of your essays if you feel it's an essential part of your story.

I hope these tips and examples help you effectively present your family responsibilities and the leadership role you've taken on within your application. Best of luck with your college applications!