<p>Your friend would submit her application late. Columbia, because of her guidance counselor's letter, would accept the application and look at it. However, I don't think that Columbia would accept her for the sake that 1) her ACT scores are too low 2) it's losing out on an investment in someone else's future and 3) she would get in if only for the sake that she has cancer. HOWEVER, I can assure you that the adcoms would send a very nice, very PERSONAL rejection letter explaining the reasons why, especially if the Make a Wish Foundation gets involved.</p>
<p>Also: Nothing personal to her, but I think there is more to life than getting into a top college. And besides that, wouldn't it feel kind of unsatisfying to know that you got in if only for the fact that you got cancer and used it to your advantage? At least, that's my perspective. I can't speak for her.</p>
<p>I agree, this thread should be taken down. My father is a pediatric oncologist and says that this whole thing is nonsense. From diagnosis to prognosis, whoever thinks that anyone other than her MD, (if this girl even exists) can comment about anything is lame....</p>
<p>There was something similar at BC a few years back. BC admissions was approached by the Make-A-Wish Foundation about a 11-12-year-old whose dream was to attend BC. The Adcom decided that even if the student were of age, it's not within their policy to admit someone purely on illness. They decided to send the kid a bundle of BC stuffs and write him some sort of letter to wish him a speedy recovery. If BC wouldn't do it, I doubt Columbia would. I don't know if the kid survived; if he is still living, then he is probably old enough to apply.</p>