Concerned - Please Give Advice

Applying to College
1

<p>Hello, I'm currently a junior at high school and I'm beginning my college selection/admissions thought process now, and I need to overcome a huge obstacle in my record.</p>

<p>I had straight As my freshman year, no honors classes. With all honors sophomore year, I managed to fall ill and received over forty absences, managing straight Bs save for two Cs. Coming into my junior year, I have a mix of honors and regular courses and one AP course, which I will most certainly achieve straight As in.</p>

<p>But of course, my sophomore year is my concern. Suffering from so many absences, it was difficult to catch up. If I had put in a little extra effort (which I never have, I've always found my high school courses tremendously easy) I probably could've gotten my As, but the overwhelming magnitude of make-up work led to a tumble down a hill, and I was left with a terrible year. As of the end of last year, my GPA was a weighted 3.9 (I'm not aware of my unweighted GPA, my high school goes out of 5.6).</p>

<p>Next year, I'll be taking three science courses (one AP, one honors, one elective), AP government, AP english, honors Calculus. I have 50 hours of community service, I'm a member of the Key Club & Computer Club, but that's it. Outside of school, however, I've done writing and been part of a relatively popular website about a certain technological industry (want to keep myself anonymous). At peak, I wrote for an audience of a half a million people a month and handled press relations for said site. I've stopped doing so since last summer.</p>

<p>I've always taken for granted since I was a child I would go to a great school, no matter what. My sister went to the University of Chicago, in addition to getting into many Ivy League and top ranked institutions. But only a few days ago before my SATs (which I took today and believe I did well on, I expect and predict [with the assistance of practice tests as an indicator] a 2100+) did I wake up to reality. My extracurriculars in school are mediocre, and outside school my writing could only do so much for me.</p>

<p>I know I can handle any challenge and tackle my education head on. I want and have a great desire to strive at a highly regarded university. However, my disadvantage in the areas of freshman year regular classes and a crushing disappointment my sophomore year have put me into a fright.</p>

<p>I've always looked toward Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, WashU, UPenn, or Northwestern as schools I'd like to go to (my sister applied to and was accepted to four of the aforementioned schools). I want to go to dental school after undergrad, major/minor in biology/computer science. </p>

<p>My question is, with my diminished academic record, have I completely walled myself out of the Ivy League, aforementioned universities, and if so, where can my unrepresentative and self-disappointing application get me?</p>

2

<p>I think there is a section to explain for your illness in the college application. I also heard your counselor could also explain that you were ill in Sophomore year. However, even with perfect GPA 4.0uw and 2400(one sitting), you could get rejected from some the Ivy schools. There is no guarantee. Do the best you can and don't worry or worry less.</p>

3

<p>don't be so concered with getting into elite schools because of your sister. Find institutions that are right for you. Take some time to look into other great, and selective institutions that are not ivies, or even top 20 schools, and find some that would offer the programs you wish to pursue. Then talk to the admissions office for all of those schools, either by phone or by email, explain your circumstances. Ask how to articulate that into your applicaion best, as well as how open they are to students withyour circumstances. I was a very special case and after talking to many institutions, I found that some were more understanding than others. Next year I will be at a wonderful, accepting, non-ivy school that I love, and I'm sure the same will happen to you.</p>

4

<p>Well said dncrgirl. You can get a great education at many institutions. If you find a "fit" you will put more effort into it.</p>

5

<p>not to discourage you, but i think that you are aiming way too high given your stats... I think that u should not be over-concerned with the ivy acceptances and do the best you can, and stretch your horizons to consider other many fantastic schools whose admissions may not be as competitive. But, it doesn't hurt to apply to the ivies later, but what i am saying is you should put those worries away and apply to appropriate lists of schools come your senior year.</p>

6

<p>Go ahead and apply! Give it a shot! Just make sure your GC makes note of your illness when they write your rec. Just don't apply to the different Ivies just because your sister was accepted to them: do what makes you happy.</p>