<p>Theres a girl at my school who has always dreamed of going to Columbia. She has worked so hard, has a 4.0 and a 25 on her ACT. In December (2007) she was diagnosed with leukemia. She only has about 2 years at the most to live.......:(</p>
<p>Regardless, she still continues with her studies and acts like she's a normal kid!</p>
<p>The guidance counselor used to be a professor at Columbia and said he would explain to the head of admissions the situation and that she would be very grateful to be accepted to Columbia in the fall.</p>
<p>She was in treatment and didn't submit her application on time. The guidance counselor said he will work with the college to see if they would accept her. Do you think Columbia would do this????</p>
<p>She is so inspiring, and it would break her heart not to be accepted to Columbia. She's one of my best friends...and I want whats best for her.</p>
<p>i dream of attending columbia too and from what i've heard from the people who've been there, it's really a dream worth living for, worth having as your last memory. </p>
<p>i agree your friend's situation is a rather sad one, but these kinds of things, you leave it to whether the person on the recieving end of the app has a soft spot or is a practicalist. for your friend's sake, i genuinely hope the adcoms treat her nicely.</p>
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i dream of attending columbia too and from what i've heard from the people who've been there, it's really a dream worth living for, worth having as your last memory.
<p>Thanks so much to everyone who has replied! Our class was thinking of starting a petition asking that Columbia accept her.....would this be favorable, or not?</p>
<p>Like it would be a petition saying that we believe she could exceed and inspire others while at Columbia and that we think Columbia should accept her.</p>
<p>I don't mean to be morbid and I truly feel that your friend deserves to get in, but I feel like Columbia might not accept her BECAUSE she has leukemia, if the prognosis is that dire. They don't want students who are most likely going to die in just a few years... I really hope the adcoms don't see it that way, though, and she gets in.</p>
<p>If they don't accept her, it'll be because they believe that an acceptance is an investment in a student's future. And everything they end up doing will follow from that.</p>
<p>Do you mean 25 ACT or 35? I understand the sad cancer fact, but w/ that low of ACT I doubt they can justify a regular acceptance. Have her think about enrolling as a special student in General Studies (but maybe GS requires one to be 21 yrs old). Anyway, I'm sure you can find her something thru some undergrad special student program. B/c the only way may be thru the back door...unfortunately... </p>
<p>I would be careful with the petition, and not for the purpose of her acceptance. That method might make the girl feel as though she was only accepted to Columbia because people felt bad for her. I don't have much personal experience with cases like this, but i'd imagine that this girl would rather get into columbia with as little extra help as possible.</p>
<p>I don't know this girl so its hard to tell, but its something to consider.</p>
<p>25 is a very low score for Columbia. If she would be accepted, anyone could infer that she was accepted BECAUSE she has leukemia. I do believe with 100% certainity that Columbia will accept a late application with her counselor's letter.</p>
<p>hm, that's terrible. however, i do think your friend's predicament will hold significant leeway in the admissions process. as much as "adcoms" are mystified on this forum, they ARE human.</p>
<p>what i find particularly interesting is that your friend would want to spend her last years at a university. granted she has the assets—i sure as hell don't—why not travel and become well-read on her own. i think that would arguably provide a more "wholesome" experience.</p>
<p>thats true thesmiths, but she's been looking forward to columbia for the past four years and has always waited till college so its kindof her "goal in life" and fulfilling it will make her content</p>
<p>I talked to the "Make a Wish" Foundation today....Do you think they could talk Columbia into accepting her? I mean, if they can do all of this amazing stuff for other kids.....this shouldn't be a problem</p>
<p>places in Columbia's class are valuable, I don't think they can just give them away out of charity. there are thousands of kids with leukemia, if she gets in then all of those kids will want in at HYP as well. i dunno, it would certainly put adcoms in a very tough position</p>