<p>I have an academic background that is a little unusual...</p>
<p>I was a problematic child, hence my mother yanked me out of public school to home school me. It didn't go well, I did not appreciate being "taught" by a parent who didn't know the material any better than I did. The situation lent itself to confusion and rebellion and within 6 months we gave up the ghost. We moved around nearly once every two months due to my mother's job, so socialization was near impossible. I didn't even get a drivers license until a few months ago because we never knew where we would be in a week's time so I couldn't take drivers ed! [EDIT re: the drivers license -- am 20 years old...]The only reason I am where I am now is illness, which I will elaborate on later. </p>
<p>I was, more or less, a 6th grade drop out by all accounts. I got my GED (the only acronym test I've managed to sit), was ranked as the second highest score in my "class" compared with a student who got bored of going to high school the summer before senior year -- but that is only to express that I have a drive to accomplish high scores. I know a GED to others is not the accomplishment it was to me. </p>
<p>I have a 3.79 GPA at a local community college but no degree. I've struggled a little with math, but I have spent many hours with my face in algebra texts and it looks less like gibberish than before. I've taken 6 biology classes and I've received A's in them all, but the lab experience is laughable. I'm steadily climbing but I'm not sure to where. </p>
<p>My point is, I feel like I have little going on that counts. I live in a rural area and my college experience thus far is owed to a dying, older generation. I finally got to stand still for two years, caring for my grandmother around the clock in a hospice situation. I was exhausted all the time, so getting the grades I have was a reach. I've only ever held summer jobs because of the demands on my time. However, since returning to a structured learning environment, I have been eating up these classes like candy. English and writing are strong points, but I have a deep love for Biology; Ultimately I would like to end up in medicine.</p>
<p>All the stuff I've typed so far is NOT going to inspire anyone to extend me admission to Harvard. I want to know what will (Harvard is merely an example). </p>
<p>I suppose I crave the academic esteem I didn't get in high school, because I didn't go. For my entire adolescence I thought I was an idiot, and now I've worked very hard to get where most 17 y/o's are. I no longer have an obligation to nurse my dying grandmother, so I want to pursue school. Not to besmirch my parents, they did their best, but I basically come from nothing. I don't have financial opportunities, I'm not well-cultured, and I'm not even sure how to go about helping charity. I've always had Ivy League dreams, but I want to make it real. How do I get there from here?</p>