Georgetown chances...longshot probably, but need help deciding anyway!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Georgetown University
1

<p>Hi everyone, </p>

<p>Yes, another chances thread! So if you aren't already burnt out please let me know what you think. Here is a breakdown of who I am and what I have to offer the academic world. </p>

<p>I'm a 24 year old Hispanic female but I don't speak Spanish. Currently I serve in the U.S. Army Reserves as an E-5, Sergeant. I graduated from the Military Defense Language Institute (DLI), located in Monterey, CA. The language I learned is Pashtu, spoken primarily in Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan. It is a very difficult language to master and rather obscure. </p>

<p>After DLI I volunteered for an eight month tour in Afghanistan where I did loads of "community service." I worked in a medical clinic and was responsible for translation between doctor and patient, as well as minor first aid. I had a great time and took a variety of pictures, mostly of women and children. I'm in the process of setting up a showing for my art in a Santa Fe gallery. Hopefully, I will sell a few pictures and generate interest for a coffee-table style book comprised of the best of my Afghan photographs that I really want to get published. I really think these projects will help define who I am and what I believe in. </p>

<p>As far as academics go I'm fairly strong with verbal skills, weak on the math side and my sciences are okay. For the college application I'm confident that I will do a good job on the essay portion. I'm working on getting recommendations from three of my best teachers over the past two years, as well as from officers and non-commissioned officers I worked with while in Afghanistan. </p>

<p>Due to military and personal obligations I've moved around a lot and as a result have attended two different community colleges in the past two years. </p>

<p>Attended Burbank High School in Burbank, CA. I wasn't the best of students. Here are the stats:
Total GPA (Weighted): 2.56 (Non-Wgtd) 2.52
Class size: 437
Class Rank: 292</p>

<p>Freshmen year at Oakton Comm. College in Skokie, IL:
GPA: 3.56
All A's (25 credits) except for the following weak points:
General College Biology - C
Social Problems - B </p>

<p>Sophomore year at Hopkinsville Comm. College in Hopkinsville, KY:
GPA: 3.455
Weak Points:
Intro to Computers - D (Teacher was awful. I re-took this class over the summer with a different teacher and received an A.)
Basic Public Speaking - B
Frontiers of Astronomy - D (First distance course, got lost and behind - I want to re-take it but it isn't offered anymore.)
Microbes and Society (BIO) - C (attendance issues, re-took it and got an A second time around)</p>

<p>Unfortunately, the bad grades from classes that I have repeated are still factored into my GPA which of course brings it down. </p>

<p>I have not taken either the SAT or the ACT but only a few schools still need scores because I've been out of high school for over five years. </p>

<p>Now that you've seen a little of who I am will you please tell me what my chances are for getting into a few schools? </p>

<p>I'm looking at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Yale, and Georgetown University. While my unique language, experience in Afghanistan, and gallery opening and possible publication do set me apart I think my lack of strength in math and science are deal-breakers, not to mention my less than 4.0 GPA. </p>

<p>Now - the real reason I'm here - what do YOU think? </p>

<p>Thanks ahead of time, </p>

<p>Victoria</p>

2

<p>I'd look into other colleges.</p>

3

<p>I would bet that there are less than 50 Hispanic females that speak Pashtu. Georgetown is certainly a possibility, but you'll get a great job in government regardless of where you go with your language skills.</p>

4

<p>You're circumstances are very different from the normal chances thread. I would recommend just filling out the application and applying. You have amazing experiences, and that will make the difference. Don't worry about the math and science.</p>

5

<p>Thanks for the replies so far! I have to wonder if I would even fit in at Georgetown. I just moved to Reston, VA and am looking for a great school close to home. I'm going to take a campus tour soon and I have a meeting planned with a current student to talk with her about academic life and stuff like that. </p>

<p>If the gallery opening goes well (or even if it doesn't) I'm also in the process of shopping around for a literary agent. It may take some time and the odds are low but if I start to show promise for publishing the artwork I'm hoping that will also look good on my application. </p>

<p>Do Georgetown admission counselors ever take into account jobs and supporting oneself while looking over grades? Oh, and I'm sure this doesn't mean anything for academics but I'm from the intelligence community and did a lot of sensitive work while overseas. Does a Top Secret security clearance sound alluring enough to sway an admissions counselor? :)</p>

<p>Weerez, you recommended I look into other colleges. Do you have any suggestions? What do you think will prevent me from getting into Georgetown? I'm sure the low GPA will be a factor, but anything else? </p>

<p>Thanks again! Take care and happy holidays. </p>

<p>Victoria</p>

6

<p>I think you would be a fine asset to Georgetown, but if you want to look at other schools you should consider UVA or Vanderbilt.</p>

7

<p>Just apply. There's a few people who come out of the military and go straight into the SFS every year. Having learned a language like pashtu, you are clearly very bright and that would be a tremendous asset to the school.</p>

8

<p>...mostly just a bump. </p>

<p>I looked more into what I'd like to get out of Georgetown. I wonder what my shots would be if I went for the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, major in Culture and Politics. Gosh, that sounds like a dream come true! </p>

<p>Can anyone tell me what else I can do to bolster my application? Hopefully this gallery opening will go well - I want to donate a portion of the proceeds to charity for Afghanistan's children. I don't want to be too greedy - I really want to give back to the world community. </p>

<p>Alright, enough - any more advice or have I sucked you all dry?</p>

9

<p>This sounds weird coming from an SFS student but I think people like you make more of a difference than some people who go to SFS with 4.0 GPAs. I say go for it...apply to Georgetown. And even if it doesn't work out, your achievements as of now are great.</p>