<p>Well I am currently a junior in texas and hav been living with my mother and 2 younger brothers for 2 yrs without my father. He was deported and hasnt made it back yet. Our income has been cut to about 30,000 dollars. I have also had to recieve a hardship license because my mother needed me to drive. However my grades freshmen yr and sophmore yr were absolutely horrific...my GPAs were 3.4 and 3.7 during those times. But then my father left the end of sophomore yr and i have come out as a new man and have gotten a 4.4 gpa so far even without my father here and all the extra tasks i hav to do because his absence. Would explaining this circumstance help me out to even sway me in?</p>
<p>Here's what i got: </p>
<p>Korean Male
1st generation to go to college
30,000 income
1700/2400 SAT (prep is very expensive unfortunetely)
31 ACT
Subject Tests </p>
<p>U.S. History : 750 French: 700 World History: 690</p>
<p>My overall WEIGHTED GPA is 3.75
and my rank is about 250-300 out of 1010 (Plano,Texas Highschool)</p>
<p>Music:
4 time All Region violinist
2 time All Stater
Top orchestra at school all 4 yrs
Principal Chair for North Texas Youth Orchestra (2 years)
Secretary of Orchestra
Church Orchestra Director for 3 yrs
Clubs:
French National Honor Society
FBLA (5th in Business Law in regionals)
Volunteering:
Big Brothers and Big Sisters Volunteer
Visiting Nurses Association Volunteer
150+ hrs of service
Sports
Recreational Baseball for 2 yrs
JV baseball for 1 yr
2nd Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo</p>
<p>Any chance u guys?</p>
<p>I’d buy a couple good SAT/ACT books and take it a few more times. If you apply regular decision, you can take it again as late as October of senior year. Or check your school for SAT prep classes, or even the neighborhood for cheap tutors. Also, apply to get your test-taking fee waived, it’ll save you a bunch on college application fees as well.</p>
<p>Even then, your total GPA will be low by Hopkins standards… my unweighted (3.85) was higher than your weighted. I’d say challenge yourself the most you can. Take as many AP classes as you can handle, and if your school doesn’t have them, look into enrolling at local colleges. You can even self-study to take an AP exam at the end of this year (I’d suggest French for you). Anything to get your rank up!</p>
<p>Your extracurriculars are good; just try to get a leadership position in at least one (An officer in the honors society, maybe, or varsity in baseball). And if JHU comes touring to an area near you, ABSOLUTELY go to visit that admissions counselor and try to request an alumni interview from someone near you if you can’t go to the school. Apply ED to show how much you want to go (and the acceptance rate is double that of RD). They want to see love and a desire to go here, and as you can see from this year’s decisions, you can have high stats and get rejected without enough love! </p>
<p>Maybe write your essay on how your what happened to your father have helped you grow as a person - not a sob story, but how it motivated you to be a man and such. Overall, you do have a lot to do, but I wish you the best of luck!</p>
<p>You definitely have a legit shot. Also, it’s important to note that your ACT score is far superior to your SAT score. I would suggest studying for the ACT and taking it again for 33+ as clearly that is that test you are best at. </p>
<p>Hopkins, as well as any other elite institution, wants kids that are passionate about something. They want kids to bring their love for music, science or whatever to the school so that they’ll get involved. I notice that you’re a pretty avid and successful violin player. I would definitely play that up in your essays. Have you considered applying for the dual degree program between Peabody and the school of arts and science? </p>
<p>Anyway, I guess you could mention your family hardships in your essays, but I wouldn’t make them the main theme. The point of your essay should be to talk about your intellectual interests and growth. If your growth is associated or correlated with your family hardships, definitely talk about it but do not talk about how you are a superhero because you were able to pull off stellar grades while going through all these problems. This isn’t to take away from that feat, but it simply shouldn’t be the point of a college essay.</p>
<p>Overall, I say that if you continue that upward grade trend, show serious passion and commitment to something and sell yourself well on your app, Hopkins is well within reach.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>