<p>Please excuse this long, arduous post. I will try to be as short and concise as possible while relating my full background.</p>
<p>I was never a good High School student. I stopped caring about school some time in Middle School and never really picked it back up until I started VoTech during my Sophomore year. I ended up having a child my senior year and eventually went into the military. While in, I realized what true value an education holds and I made a vow to pursue a degree. </p>
<p>I got out in the fall and took 3 courses during the spring, just to get back into the swing of things. I received A's in all of the classes. I'm also taking 2 classes for this Summer 1 session. It's no challenge to me at all. I feel the academic environment at my Community College is in no way conducive to me and my learning style. When I'm surrounded by slackers that do no work, I do what I can to make sure I do better than them, but I won't always push myself to MY limits. I feel a better school would allow me to truly see what I'm made of and allow me to flourish.</p>
<p>I have found comfort in a club at the College. It just started up and we've been raising a lot of awareness for ourselves, which is pretty good. We held a dance and raised money for medical care, and I just got elected as an Officer for the next semester. I'm also trying to help restart/get into the schools old Student Veterans Club, which hopefully will be up and running this Fall, and I should be part of the Student Government Association then too. Since I received transfer credits due to military service, I believe I can (will) join the honors society as well.</p>
<p>Here are some things that are not necessarily holding me back, but are speed bumps in my way:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>My daughter. No matter what, she comes first and I know I won't always be able to fit my schedule around her. I don't know how flexible the colleges I'm looking at are (coming up in just a second) and I don't want to miss out on any more time with her. 4 years of being away was too much.</p></li>
<li><p>I have Narcolepsy. Not the "fall asleep at the drop of a hat" kind, but the "feel like I've been up for 72 hours straight" kind. I feel like that all day., every day. Medications don't help much.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>For these reasons, I'm worried about my future in academics. Luckily I receive money from the VA that helps pay for my bills, so I don't need to be working full time.</p>
<p>Now let's take a look at the schools. I am not saying I'm God's gift to academia. I realize these are far shots, but it's what I think I have a legitimate shot at with some work so I'm putting it here. </p>
<p>I'm not entirely sure what I want to major in. My life experiences have really left me with an open mind to everything and I don't have this "AHAH!" click in my mind. It's slightly disheartening, but there are three colleges that I absolutely love:</p>
<p>I live right next to Swarthmore, PA. Literally, my street is right off of Swarthmore Avenue. The College is maybe a five minute bike ride. I love the town and I love the campus. If I could get in, I would most likely be interested in the computer major with a possible minor in cognitive science.</p>
<p>I used to live in Bryn Mawr, which is not only home to Bryn Mawr College, but it is also right next to Haverford! I love the campus there as well and their "Honor Code". Everything is very similar to Swarthmore as well, which is nice. The only thing I don't love is the Main Line and traffic on Lancaster Avenue.</p>
<p>The third College/University that I am interested in is The University of Pennsylvania. It's beautiful and I feel I could really fit in there. For majors, I really don't know what I'd want to do. Computer science, cognitive science, communications...it really is all confusing. I like the large community here, the sense of network and pride, but I also like the smaller scene at Haverford and Swarthmore.</p>
<p>There are multiple ways for me to apply to Penn as well, which makes this even more confusing for me. There's the regular way of applying for transfer admission, which I'm sure is nearly impossible to get accepted into, with tons of students, some of them way more "qualified" than myself, vying for spots. There is also the Liberal & Professional Studies route, which I hear is easier to get into, but limits myself to the School of Arts & Sciences and doesn't allow me to transfer. Is this true? There is also the Leadership Scholar Program for Marines which would allow me to apply to Penn (LPS), however I would be competing for spots that are held open specifically for Marines.</p>
<p>I know I cant ask what school is best for me, because only I can make that decision. But based on the information I gave, what school do you think could work with me, and my limitations to allow me to realize my dream of graduating from one of the greatest schools in America? Thank you for any and all help!</p>