So during my sophomore year of high school, I was assigned a hear transplant surgery. I missed many days of school during the year and I ended up getting 3 D’s. The year prior, Freshman year, I got pretty good grades. I got 4 B’s but that was with one of the most rigorous course loads available. Even with the D’s, I was able to get into the National Honors Society. My dream schools are to get into Harvard or Stanford, but I am fine with one of the 8 ivies. Do you think this will hurt my admissions process? My guidance counselor said she would back my claim up. Also, during my sophomore year, I did get an A in things like AP world but got a D in Spanish,English, and Biology. Will they take those A’s into account? I don’t know what to do at this point. I am ready to start fresh during my junior year. I signed up for the hardest classes and I am ready to work hard again to get an A in them
Heart** not hear
If your dream is a college/university then dreams are misplaced. A true dream directly converts into tangible fruitful accomplishments later. A university is a good conversation starter at a dinner party, but it’s actually a cost/liability. It’s like “dreaming” of a Wells Fargo loan. A real dream is being a doctor, lawyer, engineer, scientist, musician, etc. These are fruitful accomplishments that provide years of satisfaction.
Honestly, you are not likely to get into any of the ivies. 90 or more percent of those dreaming of the ivies dont get in.
Think of what you might like to do as a career, what will make you feel fulfilled. You will grow where planted if you bring your own sunshine.
Best of luck!
Trying- and failing- to think of a way to convey just how arrogant that sounds w/out being unkind.
@coolguy40 is right: college is a step on the way to the next thing, not an end in itself.
I am surprised that your school does not have system for not penalizing students who are out medically for an extended period. A heart transplant at 15(?) is unusual and a big deal. Did whatever led to the transplant mean that you missed a lot of school in grade 9 also? Is your surgery complete now? Are you in full health?
Having goals and dreams is a great thing- and can really give you motivation and focus in a tough time (having parented a child/young adult through a seriously life-threatening illness, I have every kind of sympathy for you- and your parents). So choose your dreams carefully. What is it about going to Harvard or Stanford that is important to you? What does it “prove” to you / your friends / the world?
I know a student who dreamt of Oxford from the age of 10. Got there- hooray! but in less than a year he realized that having achieved his life’s ambition at 18, he had absolutely no idea what he wanted to do next, or what else he wanted to with his life. You may be thinking ‘who cares! he got into a famous dream school!- he can do anything!’. But it was actually a very hard season for him- he felt lost, and wondered if it had all been worth it. It took him a long time to find his feet again.
I don’t think your chances are very good. Excellent test scores AND top grades in rigorous classes are a baseline. You’re not meeting that baseline, and you’re up against tens of thousands of kids who do (and have met it all four years), and even the vast majority of them don’t get an offer. There were at least four threads this year from top, high-performing students who either got shut out everywhere they applied or ended up at their safety. Learn from their mistakes. While your surgery was unfortunate and you’ll have an interesting story to tell, it doesn’t directly benefit the college in any way and is, therefore, not a hook.
You’re going to need to look beyond prestige and dig deeper. Read the book called “Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be”. It will help you get started on a new but equally rewarding path and journey.
Here are a few comments.
– The most important thing is maintaining you health. Next to that the college you attend is almost inconsequential.
– I am surprised that your HS didn’t better accommodate your health issues by allowing you to take P/F grades, make up work missed etc. I would discuss with your guidance counselor.
–I do agree that your guidance counselor should explain your health issues in his/her recommendation to colleges.
NOW for you what you don’t want to hear…Anyone who says “I am fine with any one of the 8 Ivies” sounds to me to be prestige hunting, arrogant, and/or uninformed.
–The Ivy schools are all excellent academically but are very different universities. For example a student who loves the urban location of Penn will likely not like the rural location of Dartmouth; a student who loves the academic freedom at Brown will likely not like the core curriculum at Columbia etc. Do the work and find out which schools are good matches for your interests.
–Also consider if you need to be in a certain location (ex. near a major hospital) due to your heart transplant. Ready access to top flight medical care is likely more important than prestige.
–The Ivy and equivalent schools are major reaches for any unhooked applicant including yourself. Most of these schools have acceptance rates in the single digits. There are many many more well qualified applicants than spots available – students with perfect GPAs, perfect standardized test scores, great activities etc. get turned down all the time. Nobody can predict the extent to which your medical issues may mitigate your grades.
SO my recommendation to your is:
–Seriously consider any potential future medical needs when choosing your college.
–Talk to your parents to see if they have any financial and/or geographic constraints.
–There are tons of amazing colleges and universities out there where you can have a great 4 year expereince and get where you want to go in life. Too many people focus their search on a few elite hyper-competitive schools and are crushed when they don’t get in. Please don’t be that person. It is perfectly fine to apply to a few reach schools but also seek out and research those wonderful match and safety schools that appear affordable (run net price calculators) and that you would be excited to attend. I suggest you try to get a good college guide book (ex. Fiske, Printout Review)m talk to your guidance counselor (when possible), and work to expand your college horizons.
I wish you a healthy and happy future.
*Princeton Review is the second guide book I recommended.
D had a friend that had a cancer scare. Didn’t attend school for many many months to get tests (and misdiagnosed!). This was during junior year, the year that mattered most. I will say that she didn’t get any D’s, only some C’s and mostly B’s that year, but I know the stress it can bring. I think colleges will take that into account. D’s friend got into very nice schools (didn’t wait for ivy results) but got a full ride to Vanderbilt which I believe is on par with getting into some of these ivies. She worked hard every other year in high school and, more importantly, showed her character and strength through her very strong extracurriculars.
As others have stated above, your health is more important than getting in ivy league at your age and situation now. And if you are still set on ivy league, I don’t believe one aspect of your high school application will stop you from being admitted to any school.
For now, definitely focus on your health, stop worrying, and do things that matter to you. Don’t force yourself.
Hey @varun4590,
I’m not very qualified to answer this question, as I’m a just a 7th grader who stumbled onto this thread on accident. Feel free to ignore this advice.
I’ve always seen life as one big race. The prize for this race is not being the best- it’s having the life and impact you want to have on the world. Now, in a perfect society, everyone starts on the same starting line, and it’s all up to your abilities. Unfortunately, however, life doesn’t work that way.
At the beginning of the race, there are certain factors that mean you get to start a step above everyone else. Let’s pretend we have a contestant called Sabrina. Sabrina, who was born in a wealthy home with many resources, certainly has a better chance than Ellea, who has poor immigrant parents. Because of this, Sabrina gets to take a step forward, as it’s easier for her to win the race. Because Ellea is at a disadvantage, she has to take a step backwards. There are various different factors that can determine where you start off, from where you were born to what school you went to to whether you have had a health issue or not.
Now, in the end, the place you start does not matter. Sabrina might be closer to the finish line, but if she doesn’t have the ability to run, then she won’t make it. Likewise, Sabrina, might have not started off in the best place, but if she as a runner has high endurance and is talented, then she will win the race.
My point? For the first 18 years of your life, then various circumstances can impact where you start off in life. But if you are truly a motivated individual who is always striving for the best, then you still have the opportunity to win. The university you go to might give you a step above the rest, but in the end, it’s all up to YOU.
@mssweeteaa This is so sweet. It made my day., seriously.
First I can’t believe your school doesn’t have something in place for a student who had heart surgery and as a result you should ask your counselor or parents to dig as to what is in place. At the bare minimum you should get a Pass for that semester.
I’m sorry you had to go through such a surgery at such a young age and hope you’re feeling okay, not overdoing it, and able to take care of yourself.
Second, many kids speak about the Ivy League because these universities are the only famous university they’ve heard of beside their state flagship. It’s just like little kids who want to be veterinarians because they love their dog.
Listing dream schools is easy. As a rising junior, time to get to work - the real work, not the wish list.
You need to find colleges you like and are affordable. Those colleges will share some characteristics with your dream schools except they’ll admit 40% students.
So, what are your top 2-3 criteria?
Borrow a Fiske guide or a Princeton review’s best colleges, as suggested above. Start reading.
If you can answer the “top 2-3 criteria” question, people here are knowledgeable and will give you suggestions of colleges to look into& run the NPC on.
@mssweeteaa you’re wise beyond your years.