chances for a good student with an alcohol suspension on his record

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p><em>Stats</em>
Location: Baltimore, MD
Gender: Male
Ethnicity: African-American
School: Public</p>

<p>GPA: 3.68
SAT I: 2110 (CR: 680, M: 710, W: 720)
Class Rank: 22/241</p>

<p>8 APs: (World History, Psychology, US History, English Language, French Language, Calculus AB, Economics, English Literature)</p>

<p>Senior schedule:
Honors Journalism 2, AP Economics, Honors Engineering, AP English
then i leave school for my internship. 20 hours a week at a small local law firm</p>

<p>National Achievement Semifinalist
National Merit Commended Scholar
Maryland Distinguished Scholars Honorable Mention</p>

<p><em>Activities</em>
-Class Officer for 3 years
-Founder of my school's Young Republicans club. Spent the last week before the election volunteering 16 hours a day for McCain-Palin in Prince William County, Virginia.
-I have qualified for Speech nationals twice, and I frequently win local-level competitions.
-Fairly good runner. Not super duper elite level, but reasonably fast. 5-k pr: 18:13. In freshman year, I won 1st place in JV indoor track championships for both the 1-mile and 2-mile events.
-national Model UN conference all four years
-national Model OAS conference for two years (this year I'm my school's head delegate)
-writer for the school newspaper and contributing editor of the literary magazine
-work 20 hours per week as an office aide at a small law firm...Thanksgiving weekend will make it one full year</p>

<p>****The big issue: Extremely abusive family situation. Mother has paranoid-schizophrenia with wild tendencies towards violence. Has refused for 10+ years to seek medical help. Tried several times to chase after my father with a steak knife, etc...he finally fled in 2001. She has also done some nasty stuff to me, including beating me from head to toe with my soccer cleats to the point where I was bleeding all over. Extreme verbal abuse 24/7 for as long as I can remember. </p>

<p>Having to struggle with this unstable home situation kept me from performing at my best during high school including areas like:
-grades (I was straight-A student freshman year...now B's are popping up, even a C last year in calculus)
-running (quit the running team after freshman year, home life completely demoralized me and deprived me of the will to run)
-and then finally the suspension (tried to escape the problem by drinking at pre-junior prom party, didn't know what i was doing cuz it was my first time, showed up to the dance completely wasted) </p>

<p>Applying to: Bard, Grinnell, Whitman, Davidson, Bennington, Marlboro, Sewanee</p>

2

<p>Sufjan,</p>

<p>I don't know the answer to your question with regards to having an alcohol suspension on your record. Perhaps your guidance counselor could help answer that one for you. The fact is that you HAVE done a good job in high school. Considering the obstacles you have faced at home, you should be quite proud of yourself. Your post stood out to me and I wish you all the very best. Please make it your personal legacy to break the cycle of abuse and chaos that has been your life. Your determination to move past your life at home will be the fire that propels you forward. Don't let anything stop you. You learned a very valuable lesson from your alcohol suspension. Take it as an important lesson and don't let it or your mom's illness define you or hold you hostage to the past. I see you offering insight and help to others who have faced similar issues as you mature in your life. </p>

<p>You are on a very positive path. I sincerely believe that you will be an asset to any college. All the very best to you.</p>

<p>Peace,
Pedsox</p>

3

<p>I echo pedsox. Your strength of character is truly singular. If you can emphasize the "character building" nature of the incident as the final step to moving beyond your chaotic home life, it should minimize the damage it could cause come college apps.</p>

<p>I would guestimate the effect as comparable to reducing your SAT score 150 points, to be frank.</p>

4

<p>in my opinion, you could aim a little higher if you wanted to. you could explain your circumstances in an essay.</p>

5

<p>i admire your character. aim higher. UMich has a great law prog. u would get into that school. look into top public schools.</p>

6

<p>Your username wouldn't perchance be in reference to Sufjan Stevens?</p>

7

<p>Thanks for the encouragement everyone. I know that I could aim higher--I was deliberately aiming a little bit low because I'm trying to win a full-ride merit scholarship, so I won't have to rely on my mom for funding.</p>

<p>And of course my username is a reference to Sufjan Stevens. He rocks. :)</p>

8

<p>even though i don't approve of your young republicans-ing, i'll put my liberalism aside for a bit to congratulate you for doing so well in life so far :) i wish you the best!!!</p>

9

<p>One of the few things former President W. said that I liked was his response to a question about his early alcohol abuse;" When I was a young and foolish man I did young and foolish things". </p>

<p>You too can mature into a world leader. Hopefully one who does not s***w up so much.</p>

<p>Sewanee rocks! Go Tigers!</p>

10

<p>I agree, you should aim higher. You should apply to University of Md. I'm sure you would get in there. You have overcome some big obstacles, which the admissions committee will see. You are a great student and have done very well.</p>