<p>My question is basically this; do colleges actually look at what you write in your application, or just at your GPA/SAT?</p>
<p>The reason for my asking this is that my GPA in freshman year and semester one sophomore year was very low (2.4-3 range). This was due to a severe case of a mood disorder (Bipolar 1), which significantly impacted my ability to do, well, really anything.</p>
<p>After receiving care and medical treatment starting over Christmas break in between semester 1 and semester 2 sophomore year my grades have been much better. I honestly do not even know how I did school AT ALL before taking meds and being on therapy. Seriously.</p>
<p>So, if I get a 3.5+ GPA (which I am capable of) for the rest of this year and through my junior/senior years, will colleges actually take into account what was affecting my performance in my freshman/S1 sophomore years?</p>
<p>I would like to go to a nice college (not Harvard or anything, but not Foothill Community College either) but I feel like my mood disorder has pretty much screwed me due to my grades before receiving treatment. Where do I stand here?</p>