Are my chances at top schools ruined?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Claremont McKenna College
1

Hello everyone,

Claremont McKenna is my top choice and for those who don’t know what that is, it’s a very selective liberal arts school in California with an ACT Range of 31-33 and a 9.4% acceptance rate. I plan to apply ED for the admissions process. There is one important thing however:

I have had severe ADHD and anxiety disorders but I didn’t get medication until my senior year. From my freshmen to junior year, I was sleep deprived and school was a big struggle for me due to focusing problems. I basically went throughout high school without any 504 or medication even though I needed it. During my senior year, the disorders were more prevalent since college applications were a topic and I was mentally unstable, thus causing me to drop 2 APs. Originally, I had taken 6 but now I’m taking 4 and I have 2 WDs on my transcript. Yet, it was recommended by my guidance counselor that I drop them and see a psychiatrist, which I did. Turns out, I’ve had ADHD my whole life. I was diagnosed with anxiety my freshmen year but never received treatment because it was a psychologist. So my stats are pretty low, but I feel if I was diagnosed my freshmen year by a psychiatrist and actually got medication then I could’ve done A LOT better. I recently got medication and life and school are so much easier. Are my chances diminished? I’m going to try to talk about it in the additional information section. Thank you for everyone that responds!

Major: Economics
State: Ohio
School: Very Competitive Public
Ethnicity: Black and Asian
Gender: XY
Class: Rising Senior
GPA: 3.99 W and 3.6 UW
ACT: 31 (32 superscore)
Subject tests: Math 2 - 780, US History - 720
AP: AP US History (4), English (4), Economics (4,4), Calc BC (3), AB sub (3), Physics (2) (yikes)
Awards: Honor Roll, Scholar Athlete, Academic
Medallion, Salute to Excellence, Varsity Letters, Leadership Certificates, etc.

Freshie

Honors Algebra 2 - A
Honors English 9 - B
Physical Science - A
World History - A
Spanish 2 - A
Electives - A

Sophomore

Honors Pre Calc - A
Honors Bio - A
Honors Chemistry - A
Honors English 11 - B
Spanish 3 - B
AP US History - B
Electives - A

Junior

AP Calc BC - B
AP Physics 1 - B
AP Economics - A
AP English 11 - B
Spanish IV - A
Electives- A

Senior

AP Statistics
AP Psychology
AP Comparative Government
AP Spanish
English 12
(Dropped AP English 12 and AP Chemistry)

As one can tell, my GPA is on the lower end.

EC:

In school

Varsity Basketball - lettered sophomore year, won division 1 districts, really big part of my life, takes up LOTS of time
Varsity Track - lettered sophomore year, won division 1 districts, takes up LOTS of time
African American Culture Club - Co founder and Vice President,
Diversity Acceptance Program - Vice president,
Youth For Christ - Vice President,
Selected Freshmen Mentor
S.P.L.A.S.H - Selective program for leaders within my school
Principal’s Advisory Board

Out of School

Founder of STEM UP Initiative - venture to expose URMs to STEM in Cleveland
COO of ClevirWorks - emerging tech startup, in charge of operations
Student Director at Effective Leadership Academy Alumni Board
Director at Be The Change Venture - non-profit startup that attempts to teach networking skills to youth.
Junior Ambassadors - Volunteered 109 hours at Cleveland Clinic main campus in the summer
Research Assistant - Assisted post doc at Case Western Reserve’s biomedical engineering lab (WHY I LIKE BME)
Marketing Director for DifferentLikeYou.com - summer internship at non profit - website for kids with disabilities
Business Intern at Artificial Intelligence Laboratories - Interned at firm based in San Francisco
Council Member at the City Club of Cleveland - year round
Intern at the Diversity Center of NEO
Discover U in Business at Miami University
Look Up to Cleveland Program
Lifeguard

2

What?? Are you serious?? Considering how drastic your situation was and the amount of struggle you went through, I find it amazing that you still managed to hold those difficult classes and push through with good grades. And on top of that your extracurriculars are stellar! I think you have a high chance of being accepted into CMC, don’t have worries about it. If anything, you should try to maybe integrate your struggle within your personal statement essay. Just a suggestion…
Anyways, I just found it incredible that you manage to have these statistics, while having gone through those hard times. Godspeed to you!

3

Do make sure your guidance counselor addresses those issues. As for your essay, be sure you sound positive and not gloomy. You sound like a great applicant.

4

Congratulations on getting the issue identified and starting to work on the path forward. My son was in a similar situation to yours. He actually wrote a fairly witty essay about some of his issues for his application to the (very competitively ranked) school he is currently attending. So there may be something to being up front about your experiences. I will say your ECs look very strong.

5

Agree that your guidance counselor should address this in his/her recommendation. You have done really well and should feel proud of your accomplishments and excited about your future.

That said, if you don’t get into Claremont McKenna you should have many other excellent college choices. Don’t get too hung up on one super competitive “dream school” when there are many colleges where you can get a great 4 year experience and get where you want to go in life.

6

When colleges are called highly competitive, it’s not just admissions. It’s the level of work, once there, the demands and standards, as well as the level your college peers are at.

Lower grades reflect learning. At a highly competitive, where so many apply with no or hardly any B’s, they may feel your B grades make you less prepared. Explaining may not be enough- more ideal is “show, not tell.”

How are senior grades, so far? Will GC and teacher LoRs go to bat for you, explain how high your work was and the grades were about tests or some fluke?

STEM is an issue at a highly competitive like Claremont McKenna, with the jr grades and the calc and physics AP scores.

Best wishes. But you need to carefully match yourself, be realistic, and have happy safeties.

7

GPA is too low for Claremont McKenna. Their acceptance rate is 10% even with midpoint stats. Your scores are borderline for Ohio State, but absolutely rock solid for Ohio University and Cincinnati. You might actually get a scholarship at one of these schools. Elite schools are highly overrated anyway.

8

The OP is a URM, that may improve their chances. OP, have you visited CMC? It isn’t a fit for everyone, so be sure you visit before an ED application and also that the Net Price Calculator on the school website shows an affordable price. And be sure you take a disciplined approach and develop a set of matches and safeties that you would also be willing to attend. Don’t get hung up on just one school.

9

@coolguy40 @intparent I got into the school but thanks for being pessimistic!

10

Why is it pessimistic to say that you have a shot in spite of low GPA because of your URM status, but be sure you have a good list in case you don’t? Did you read my post, or just tee off first? (Good fit for CMC, though…)

11

You seem to have a hook that really makes you unique. Good luck.