<p>How would a quadriplegic like myself, who broke his neck halfway through his freshman year had to give up all of his previous passions (sports, music, karate, and has maintained his grades but now has limited choices for EC's. related to needing 6 hours therapy a week and limited chances to choose those only offered at school, but has SAT's M 710, CR, 650 GPA 94.5 % uw taken 6 APs' up to his junior year, 4-5 on AP's,compare to someone with similiar stats and avg,. Ec's? My parents and I tried to obtain info from admisisions people here on the CC ( no replies )and in person during college visits but they all tell us the same.. "everyone is evaluated on their merits, we can't discriminate against you. etc. . the usual. Could anyone give me any insight on this? thank you</p>
<p>I would imagine that the admissions people give that same answer to students of all types. They don't want to say anything that can come back and haunt them later. They need to be sure they never indicate that one student has some sort of edge over another(with similiar stats) before they even apply. What I think you should pay attention to is the fact that every school says they evaluate students based on how well they did with what they had to work with. In your case, you have overcome severe obstacles that would have sunk many kids your age and you have excelled. I would focus on which schools you feel are a good fit for you academically and then make sure they can provide the accommodations you need for the physical disability. You are a promising candidate for many schools based on your stats and the determination you have shown thus far. Good luck.</p>
<p>gofor,
Your grades and scores are commendable.
You have not indicated your academic interests.
Is your 6 hours of therapy a week an ongoing need?
Once you find schools where you fit in that they offer your interests, and you are in the upper half of their admitted student statistics, then you will need to visit and talk to the disabilities department to be sure the entire campus is readily accessible to you and your chair. And check that there is a place nearby for your therapy sessions.
Once you are satisfied with the above conditions, I believe that your unique perspective and determination would be a welcome addition to any class.
No one would be so bold as to tell you that you are guaranteed admission, but I'd guess you'd need a blatent indication of non-fit to be denied.</p>
<p>thanks guys.. Still I saw other students at the information sessions at the upper tier schools speak about the following topics and admission officers were able to give their opinions, and yet when I or my parents asked a question about people like me they just stood there and paraprasing here " each case is differnt and unique. After an exhausting search, I am applying to the Ivies and two other "top tier" schools. I have winnowed the college list 20 down to 6 Just like these other students. Most students asked the same questions and there books, articles, sites like these devoted to every one ofv theabove groups but not one book an d as handful of articles and no web sites devoted to college admission for the people like me. Don't I deserve the same treatment or people should just pat me on the head like they always do and say " you are an inspirarastion and thank God i could never do what you done" Iguess I am not worthy of help.
This really makes me worst then being paralyzed. </p>
<p>urms,
orms
,athletes,
people with lot's EC's,
high SAT's- low GPA,
high GPA's-low GPA's,
people from west coast, east coast,
people from low population states,
people from households with low socioeconmoic,
single parent households
first generation offspring,
international students,
people with military experience
legacies
ED
EA
transfers
LD's
waiting lists
deferred
all asking about chances, advice, and every topic related to admisssion to c</p>
<p>Gofor,
How many 'people like you' have you met, in your age group and with your intellectual ability?
It is not that you are not worthy of help; it is just that all of the above categories have hundreds, if not thousands, of applicants a year. There are maybe a handful in your situation and there is no general formula to fit each of you.
Once you identify schools which can handle your situation logistically, go to their websites and come back here and ask all the specific questions you like.</p>
<p>People are willing to help but few have the experiences to address your unique situation in a general manner. Ask specific questions, however, and you will get specific responses.</p>
<p>I would think that your unique perspective would make you more interesting to many colleges than a URM or a legacy or something like that. That doesn't mean it will necessarily be enough to get you into an Ivy, but I think at the very least your lack of ECs will be understood and won't hurt you.</p>
<p>Perhaps the Office of Special Services at the various schools that you are interested in could be of assistance. Just make sure that you have some safeties that you would enjoy attending. Also, I would think that it would be crucial for you to make sure that you are certain that there are no physical barriers on campus, and be mindful of what you might be faced with during inclement weather. Hopefully, you will have access to everything on campus in 2007, at all of your school choices. I would hope that the Offices of Special Services could answer your questions.</p>
<p>I have spoke or gone to all the disabilty offices, and they all helped me with housing two even gave me exact rooms were I could be housed in, they are told me about snow removal all the campuses are ok with me . they told me about accomadations for tests, etc.. but they all said "any questions about admissions you have to speak with them" I have met with a couple people like me at Cornell, Princeton, at Columbia ( one of my forner doctors there was like me) They all told me to expect some condensending people who will try to make you feel grateful even to be in the same room as them and this what I felt when I was at some these sessions. Anyway, I hope someone in admissions somewhwere could be frank with me to and treat me with the same way as other able bodied students.</p>
<p>"They all told me to expect some condensending people who will try to make you feel grateful even to be in the same room as them"</p>
<p>I'm sure that will be the case wherever you go in life. What I think you also have to look for as you visit schools -- and that no one else has mentioned -- is whether this is the overwhelming tone you get from most people at the school, or if the general tone is accepting and interested and it's just the occasional jerk who is condescending.</p>
<p>I think it's the same idea of "fit" that everyone has to deal with when they look at a school, but it your case you'll need to watch out for the condescension, etc. -- from the administration and the faculty, as well as from the other students. Again -- you'll always bump into it wherever you go; you just need to make sure it's not the prevalent flavor of the campus you go to.</p>
<p>"They all told me to expect some condensending people who will try to make you feel grateful even to be in the same room as them."</p>
<p>Sure, but at Princeton at least they're just condescending to everyone. (Joking, mostly. Princeton's a wonderful school with some brilliant kids. And they know it. And tell people. Often.)</p>
<p>yeah, I bet ther are condesending at Princeton. I fell a lot better now after I got this stuff off my chest. Anyway, I have safties in my list too and matches.. I know all IVies are reaches.. even for the 800 800 800 people . "It's just a crapshoot and what flavor of the day " as my Dad says.. Just I thought though.. before my accident I was a big time jock and took my music ability for granted and I was very happy being a B average student and never thinking about being one of those guys who used to be in the honor classes.. Now I am one of them.. too funny</p>
<p>Hey there gofor2008!! I see you are finaly here!!!<br>
love Dad. i will be home after 7 pm tonight.</p>
<p>Brooke Ellison is a quadraplegic who was accepted to Harvard. But she had the stats for Harvard. Top grades, top test scores, Siemans Intel project, rigorous course load, rigorous school. Though her profile fit her right in there with her peers at Harvard, there were kids at her high school with similar profiles that did not get in, and felt that her handicap was a "hook". But the fact that she was such Harvard material, given such a handicap, I would hardly call it that. Her accomplishments were remarkable. It does not work, in my opinion, to try to have a handicap or medical condition "pull" you up to the midrange of the school's acceptance range. It is not something that the colleges seek, per se, but they do recognize what an achievement it is to do that well with such severe challenges.</p>