Does Brown look at extenuating circumstances?

Colleges & Universities A-Z Brown University
1

<p>For 2.5 months I was out of school due to an extreme [still undiagnosed] illness in which I lost the ability to walk, difficulty with speech [slurring/stuttering], the tendancy to pass out, something similar to seizures, etc. With three ER visits, constant doctor appointments, and hospital visits-it was pretty clear that going to school wasn’t going to happen. </p>

<p>I ended up getting “home schooled” where teachers would send home work and tests and I just had to self study and teach myself the curriculum. I managed to still get As in AP US History and AP English III, but due to an uncooperative teacher who refused to send material, and then would send tests completely unrelated to what he told me to study- I basically failed AP Environmental (exaggeration: it was really only a 79). My counselor as well as other teachers were really frustrated by this, considering that I had previously had an A in that class before I had left. There’s been many complaints to the school about him, and I found out the only reason he has not been fired yet is because the school can’t find anyone else to teach the class. </p>

<p>Our school is on a 7 pt. GPA scale, so that grade really lowered it, taking me out of the top 10% as well as denying me membership to the national honor society. My guidance counselor told me that she’ll explain everything in her letter of recommendation, but honestly-will this even make a difference to a top school like Brown?</p>

2

<p>I think someone else said it well: yes, extenuating circumstances make a difference, but there are a lot of people with extenuating circumstances. I’m a rising senior, so I don’t have any level of authority, but I would say that they look at how you dealt with the situation too, and it sounds like you couldn’t have done anything more. So, like, no matter what’s thrown at you, you can deal and make the most of it.</p>

<p>My heart goes out to you for what you’ve had to go through! I hope they either figure out a diagnosis, or it magically never happens again. I’ve also had my fair share of bad teachers, and I know that sucks, too.</p>

3

<p>yes, they take these things into consideration</p>

4

<p>This will not serve to deny you admission and may even give you a great essay topic about dealing with fear and adversity and living with the consequences of circumstances out of your control. That essay would be very telling and perhaps defining of your character.</p>

5

<p>That’s good to know . . . I have something that could be classified as a disability and it screwed up a few of my grades.</p>