<p>my grades are complete poo (basically 3.2) ya pretttty depressing. but my sat scores are ok (1990 first time without studying and i'll DEFINITELY do better). i know that my it's a complete reach to imagine myself getting into NYU, but i was wondering if my avid involvement in karate (5 hours a day 7 days a week freshman year) would have any effect. (i've been doing karate for 9 years and it's my passion, i'm a black belt) i was also wondering if the fact that my home life is very stressful would be a slight explanation for my grades. i have angry, violent, divorced parents and spent part of my sophomore year in a group home because of physical abuse. all of my councelor and the police were heavily involved. i was just wondering these are factors that i should even consider admitting to the admissions officers and how much they would be considered</p>
<p>Look thru the NYU application and Common application and see if any of the essay questions could be used to bring out the points you want to highlight. Don't use it as an excuse per se, more like a backdrop for why you are who you are today and where you want to go with your life. Best to you.</p>
<p>there's like a section on nyu's app that's dedicated to "things you would like to bring to our attention." at least in the 07-08 one</p>
<p>Consider asking your guidance counselor if he/she'd write a letter to include in your application. I definitely think it's also a legitimate topic to bring up in your essays.</p>
<p>Great suggestions above, I'm assuming that's an unweighted GPA...what was your rigor of coursework (mostly honors...any AP's?) that makes a big difference. Get the tests up a 100 points (maybe take the ACT too?) and by all means mention the group home thing. </p>
<p>If you can write, use it in the essay. (begin working on it ASAP and show it to any decent writer who can critique it) The common App always has had an "write about an obstacle you've overcome" prompt.</p>
<p>Here's the thing though...it can't be a "My year in a group home" thing. The essay should be about someone you met there...a facet of living there (having met kids from other backgrounds or worse off than yourself?) An epiphany that most of these kids weren't going to do much better than their parents...but YOU are not only gonna go to a college...BUT A GREAT COLLEGE.</p>
<p>Adcoms's love a well-written 'pick em up by your boot straps essay'. All the above advice is great too, by all means have your guidance counselor mention your obstacles (you might have to write a separate note reminding him)</p>
<p>Good Luck</p>