<p>Yeah, with the opening of the Common App, these posts are very common nowadays. But, I'm really curious as to whether or not I should apply to Georgetown because there has been a special case with my grades during my sophomore year. Georgetown is my top school, so I will be applying via EA.</p>
<p>Thank you all!</p>
<p>Intended Major: Double Major in Philosophy and Economics</p>
<p>SAT IIs:
U.S. History - 760
Math II - 720
World History - 740</p>
<p>APs (11th and 12th grade combined):
AP U.S. History
AP European History
AP Latin: Virgil
AP Biology
AP Statistics
AP English Language
AP U.S. Government & Politics</p>
<p>Other Relevant (?) Classes:
Economics
Business Principles and Management</p>
<p>That sophomore year could be tough to overcome, but you just might do it. It will require an outstanding first grading period as a senior.<br>
Have you taken calculus? Also, what were your scores on the AP tests you took last year?</p>
<p>@WCASParent Thank you for replying. Hopefully, my senior year grades will be an upward trend since a lot of the classes I’m allowed to take are classes that I enjoy. But we never know until September comes.</p>
<p>I am choosing AP Statistics because I enjoy the math in the course better. I also did horrible in the Trigonometry unit in Pre-Calc junior year.</p>
<p>Oops, forgot to post the scores.
APUSH: 5
AP Euro: 4</p>
<p>Remember, Georgetown doesn’t look at the writing portion of the SAT, so you have to look at those out of 1600.</p>
<p>Anyway, the most important thing to do when dealing with “personal shenanigans” is to explain them. Tackle it head on. Provide the context. Ideally, have your counselor back up what you’re saying and otherwise add to that context.</p>
<p>Based solely on quantitative particulars, I certainly think you have “a chance.” Good luck!</p>
<p>@dzleprechaun Thank you so much for the input. For the CR+M scores, my first sitting was a 1460 (730 M and 730 CR); my second sitting is a 1560 (770 M and 790 CR).</p>
<p>I talked to some outside counselors about the problems, and many think that there are certain things I shouldn’t mention to colleges. Long story short, my eating disorder was at the worst during sophomore year, and I went through a period of depression due to my parents’ divorce fights (they didn’t divorce in the end). People told me that these negative experiences might make me seem “unstable” or “unprepared” during college admissions – unless, of course, my writing and explaining ability is out of this world, which it’s not.</p>
<p>The positive aspect is that my school counselor does know everything. Hopefully she can help me out.</p>
<p>And thank you, it really means a lot. I’ll see what happens this December. :)</p>
<p>Your GPA is low for Georgetown, although overall you have a strong profile. Your test scores are fine, so I would focus on trying to get your grades up in the first part of your senior year (as close to, if not above a 4.0). </p>
<p>As for your “problems”, I only partially agree with some of the advice you have received. Colleges are always interested in how students have met and overcome challenges in their lives. I think a carefully crafted essay about these issues, how they affected you, how you dealt with them, and what you have learned could be powerful and compelling, especially since through it all you have done really well. Naturally, you don’t need to go into all of the details, nor should it be a “pity” essay, but you really might be able to use it to your advantage. Describe how these experiences have made you stronger, more mature, and in fact have prepared you well for life’s challenges that lay ahead. </p>
<p>Yea, Dad082 has it right in terms of how to explain certain types of things without them seeming self-pitying, immature, unserious, cliche, whatever. </p>
<p>I can’t speak for the adcoms at other places - maybe Harvard and Yale really are looking for Stepford Children, although I doubt it. But certainly all of the Georgetown admissions officers I’ve known have been understanding people who are very much aware of all of our human complexities, frailties, contradictions, etc. They’re not looking for ‘perfect’ people, as if there were such a thing. Certainly they know full well that even (“even” isn’t the right word, but that’s a topic for another day) at schools like Georgetown there are many people with all kinds of challenges - past, present, and future - including mental health challenges. That is not a disqualifying factor.</p>
<p>What is prized is self-awareness: the ability to reflect analytically and thoughtfully on yourself as a person. That doesn’t mean that it’s expected that someone can just snap their fingers and ‘fix’ everything that’s wrong or disordered with them. For many (including many people I met at Georgetown), it is a life-long balancing act with good days and bad. But being able to understand the challenges one faces, the impacts it has had on one’s life and choices, and the ability to chart a path forward - that is an ability that pretty much everyone wants in a student, employee, etc.</p>
<p>@Dad082 Thank you! I’ve talked to my counselor about it, and she agrees completely. We’ll see if I have that ability to craft such an essay. Fingers crossed!</p>
<p>@dzleprechaun WOW. I think you should be a counselor/motivational speaker. Really. Though personally, it’s still really hard for me to grasp the fact that colleges are not looking for “perfect children”, since I’ve grown up listening to success stories of Harvard alumni. I guess after what happened the past four years, I’m still trying to find my place in the world. But thank you for the well thought out advice; it’s something I don’t see often. :)</p>