Chances

<p>I'm going to be a senior this fall, what would you say my chances of getting into Charleston are?</p>

<p>Here are my stats: </p>

<p>GPA: 2.871
ACT: 25
SAT: 560 on CR, 560 on M, 610 on W</p>

<p>4 year of lacrosse, I will play if I get in, but it's only club so it wouldn't help in admissions.</p>

<p>3 years of IM basketball.</p>

<p>3 years of drumline/band.</p>

<p>Hopefully getting a job soon, I've been managing 3 different properties and landscaping them for my parents this summer.</p>

<p>I've done some volunteer work, not a ton.</p>

<p>My counselor told me I should send a letter to all the colleges I apply to explaining part of the reason my GPA is low, which is that I had really bad ADHD and anxiety disorder that weren't really diagnosed well until my sophomore, which really sucked. I don't know how much this will help, but my counselor seemed to think it was worth it to write the letter.</p>

<p>I'm going to retake the ACT in either September or October, maybe both, and I'm expecting to have a 27-28 when it's all said and done.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for your help.</p>

<p>Do I sound like a jerk if I say that you seem 50-50? Let me explain...</p>

<p>The letter's probably a good idea, but most college applications have specially designated sections where you can explain a discrepancy like your GPA. Either way, it's absolutely necessary to explain your GPA, since an AVERAGE incoming freshman "had a high school GPA of 3.74." And even if you do address this, there's no guaranteeing that the people who read your application will suddenly cut you some slack-- especially during a time where college admissions have never been stricter.</p>

<p>"Bosox" gives me the impression that you're out-of-state, in which case you'll have to make an impressive distinction between yourself and in-state kids since in-state students are given an undeniable admissions advantage. Have you taken or will you be taking any AP Classes? Have you written your essay yet? Does your school have rankings or percentiles? According to a lot of my literature, C of C freshman "graduated in the top 20% of their high school class." Also, you should write your essay ASAP and perfect it. Go to an English teacher and have them edit the hell out of your writing until it shines. And make a resume out of your extracurriculars-- it doesn't matter if you don't have many-- just list your activities and the years you participated in them in resume format. It's little nuances like this, in addition to a strong essay that COULD persuade an admissions officer overlook certain academic indiscretions.</p>

<p>Oh, also, study your ass off for your ACTs. Right now, you have the scores of an "average" C of C freshman, but you definitely want to be above average to enhance your academic profile.</p>

<p>Best of luck to you. If you really want to go to this school, then it won't feel as burdening to put in the necessary work. If you want it, work for it. If you work for it, then it'll happen. Have faith in yourself and DON'T slack off this year.</p>