<p>I beg to differ: "I was depressed and dealing with separation anxiety stemming from my assignment at an independent duty station. There were no Marines around and I felt an overwhelming inability to relate to civilians my age." </p>
<p>That certainly sounds like a good reason to me? Many people don't know what it's like to suffer from separation anxiety. That's my point again. You can't compare yourself to others. You are YOU and something like that is specific to your life experience and helps to make you different. I'm not going to continue to be redundant. You have nothing to be trepidatious about. Go for it after you get done w/your courses. :)</p>
<p>That would be a great essay, show Columbia how all of your life the only person you ever had was yourself and how going to these third world countries showed you that your life was hard, but you learned that it can be worse. Illustrate how seeing the world makes you the examption for them to accept.</p>
<p>I know you are sitting there scratching your head and saying PIMA is all over the place. When you look back you will see that I stated you need to take a neg and make it a pos. Before now all you gave were little bits and pieces, not the whole strand.</p>
<p>IMHO you still have some holes, if you want an honest answer on chances you need to fill in some facts...i.e. why you stopped classes at UMD in Asia...admissions will see that on your transcript, unless you can divert it from being submitted, they will want to know why you quit and how you can prove it won't happen again.</p>
<p>Why are you questioning your chances if you have Curtis Rogers connection...it is a no brainer. I am @20 yrs older than you, I have worked corporate for the majority of that time. If I hand my card to someone, it means I am expecting them to use it. The Dean of an IVY just doesn't hand out his card to every kid/young adult they meet...imagine the phone calls he would receive. He hands it out selectively. </p>
<p>BE SMART...you can have an acceptance letter today, or at least verbal through admissions if you use that card. Nobody in corporate world with power or position hands their card out to someone that may use it, unless they are willing for it to be used ;)</p>
<p>A Dean of Admissions isn't "corporate", those guys hand out cards like confetti. Ever been to an admissions event? Ever heard a "really, I don't think you should apply", or a "sorry, I don't have any cards left".</p>
<p>Bred should really work on his academic record, then when he gets in we (critics) say "I told you so" and he says "I told you so" too.</p>
<p>sorg, I totally understand your pov, which to many extents is completely true and valid. I totally do not believe in the <em>if u have nothing nice to say dont say anything at all</em>, but couldnt you put it a little more deftly? But yeah you are right.</p>
<p>But anyways to the original poster, your experience counts for a lot, especially to make up for the non traditional status that you have acquired. I am in the same boat as you. I am non traditional for an amazing reason, and that I never took college seriously =P. I have been to tons of open houses for top schools like Hopkins, Cornell, Wellesley, Berkeley, and more and have sat down with admissions officers and have been told the same thing: the same is expected from me GPA wise and rigorous curriculum wise as the other incoming students freshman or transfer. It is just that I have a good excuse for my gap in education, and they <em>might</em> favor me more because I have most likely found what I want to do in life so I probably will finish on time. But yeah, it was not going to make up for a lacking GPA or anything. Luckily, I earned 2 As a B and a C my first time around, so I could easily make that up to a decent GPA. Also, being out of hs for more than 5 years, the requirement to take the new SAT is waived, but I must submit some type of sat score. Which is fine because I did great on the old SAT in 2003, but I dont think I would like to take the new ones (can u imagine sitting there with a bunch of 16 year olds... and there is always one sick one!!) </p>
<p>Honestly, take you time with applying. The school isnt going to close down next year. Build a good GPA. In my experience, I have received the most personal attention now that I have 60 units (almost) and a 3.7 GPA and in an honors program with all rigorous courses that lead to major preparation (follow the curriculum of the programs I would like to join at the different schools). I hope u do get in, stay close with the college u want to go to and go to info sessions and open houses. Youll do fine. GL!!</p>