<p>My last post asking for other's opinions about my situation and prospects for college admission did not get as many responses as I would have liked, so I will try to make this one more thorough.</p>
<p>I am a junior in a frustrating and confusing situation. My test scores are very good, and I have started to develop a passionate interest in business. However, events in my past make my application somewhat unimpressive to admissions officers at elite colleges.</p>
<p>PSAT - 240
ACT - 35 Composite
SAT I - 2360 (800 cr, 780 math, 780 writing)
SAT II - will take lit., chemistry, and math II in oct.</p>
<p>I go to a competitive, very well-rated public school in a suburb of Chicago.
unwtd GPA - 3.556
wtd GPA - 4.054
rank - 135 out of about 700/800</p>
<p>AP's jr. year - German, English Lit., English Lang., Stats (scores pending)
AP's sr. year - Calc. AB, Psych., Micro & Macro Econ., </p>
<p>E.C.'s</p>
<p>Debate - Freshman year only - won two awards, including second-place speaker in a tournament.</p>
<p>Community Service - About 50/60 hours at community center/library.</p>
<p>Employment - I've been working every day after school since sophomore year. About six months ago, I got a job working in an insurance brokerage agency. I work here 15-20 hrs/week during the school year and full time during the summer. I update and work on the website, help with streamlining the filing system into an all electronic system, and make sales calls, meeting with clients and helping to obtain business for the company.</p>
<p>This summer I am going to a program at NYU for entrepreneurship and business.</p>
<p>I entered the Ayn Rand Fountainhead essay contest, and will hear back soon. I also plan on entering some other essay contests. I play guitar as a hobby.</p>
<p>Awards</p>
<p>Outstanding Freshman in History
Outstanding Freshman in German
Fritzemeier Award Nominee (general academic award)
I assume I will be a National Merit Scholar</p>
<p>I'm a good writer, and I plan to work hard on my essays, focusing on my interest in business. Also, I have some teachers this year who like me a lot and have agreed to write me recommendations.</p>
<p>I don't feel that my GPA accurately reflects my aptitude and achievements as a student. I had straight A's all of freshman year and junior year. The dip in my GPA was caused solely by events in my sophomore year. I had been using drugs and drinking recreationally since the age of 12, but I lost control in sophomore year and pretty much stopped trying at all in school. I went to rehab, but the staff there was not equipped to help me with honors level schoolwork. I ended up with a few B's, and mostly C's and Withdrawls. I didn't start to turn things around until the summer after sophomore year. I worked a part time job and abstained from drugs, and I was able to discover my interests. I've done great in school junior year and I have a job that reflects my interest and talents.</p>
<p>I am writing this post because I would like advice from people who have had experience with similar situations. Will top colleges treat my GPA as an indicator of substandard performance, or will they be understanding of my situation?</p>
<p>The colleges I'm applying to are:</p>
<p>Harvard
Yale
Penn (Wharton)
Columbia
Brown
Princeton
Northwestern (Both my parents went here)
NYU (Stern)
Pomona
Undecided on safeties and more match schools.</p>
<p>Is it worth it for me to apply to Ivy League schools, or will I be disappointed? Thanks to anyone who can help.</p>