<p>The only college I truly am interested in attending is Notre Dame. It is the only place I can see myself, I know it is early in my high school career (I am only a sophomore) but I have suffered from depression this summer and into this part of the school year. I will be getting anti-depressants soon and hopefully then I will be motivated. All I have felt like doing this whole school year is sleeping, and as a result my grades have really suffered. Freshmen year I had a GPA of 3.6 uw which I was happy with.. But after my first quarter of sophomore year I got all B's except for an F in Latin II, which I attribute to the class being poorly prepared (we did not finish Latin I and a lot of people in the class failed it this quarter), as well as my depression. I know I can write a supplement explaining my issue, but my GPA dropped from a 3.6 to like, a 2.6 and I'm worried! Notre Dame always has the most talented kids applying there, they have no reason to accept me when there are 1,000 other kids who have worked hard and maintained a high GPA their entire career. I think my one saving grace could be the fact that I am highly involved in my school community. This year I have founded seven clubs and served as co-president of them. I also figure to start a non-profit business which sends money to the Philippines so that nuns can help disadvantaged children. My PSAT scores have been good and I have taken the most rigorous course load offered at my school. I make good use of my summers and have a good amount of community service. Notre Dame is all I really care about, and it is my inspiration for waking up every morning. I start every morning with a routine of tapping my Notre Dame apparel before I leave for school. All I want is to know I still have a chance at being admitted... I know I will have to work harder to come back than ever before. But basically....... I am asking, do you think if I can recover my GPA I will still have a shot at admission, or will the low Latin grade really stick it to me? Thank you in advance.</p>
<p>Yes, I think that if you recover your grades, you will have a shot. However, even those who have perfect GPAs and test scores get denied. Nothing is a guarantee in college admissions. I think it would be wise to look into other schools. Personally, I have one school that I desperately want to go to. But I also have a couple I know I would be happy at if I don’t get into my first choice. And, even some back-ups for those, too.</p>
<p>So, yes. Work hard…do your best…and apply in two years. But give some other schools a fair shot and apply to multiple back-up schools that you could still see yourself at. Good luck! :D</p>
<p>I’m not sure founding seven clubs is a great use of your time. You may be over-extending yourself which may contribute to your problems (you’re exhausted!) Schools would rather see you seriously involved in one or two clubs/activities which shows true commitment and depth of interest. If you can get your depression under control and bounce back grade-wise next semester, you can show that you can deal with adversity. That is a good use of your essays. But if you are still struggling after this year, ND may not be the right school for you. It is pretty intense here and the weather is lousy, so finding an environment that is healthier for you may make you happier and more successful in the long run. Go easy on yourself - maybe think of ND for grad school.</p>
<p>If your dip in grades is something that can be explained by your struggles with depression, as you know, that is something you can explain in your application. With an explanation for your low performance, ND and other schools will be much more likely to overlook those grades. If your grades improve and stay consistently high once you get treatment for your depression, that will show colleges that you have overcome your struggles and are capable of being successful in college. You could also take the experience and demonstrate what you learned from it in your college essays. College adcoms do like to see that applicants are able to overcome difficulties in their lives.</p>
<p>For some anecdotal evidence, I do have a friend who had a similar dip in grades at the beginning of high school due to some personal issues, but was able to get in to ND as a transfer second semester freshman year. Obviously, you won’t know your own outcome until you apply, but I don’t think you have to lost hope just yet.</p>
<p>But, as Newdomer said, don’t overextend yourself. It sounds like you have done a lot of great work, but try to focus on the clubs and activities you are really excited about and drop those that are just there for your resume. Don’t overextend yourself so much that you can’t give school the attention that you need to to make the best grades you can. Focusing your attention towards school and a few activities you care most about is probably the best thing you can do for both your grades and your mental health.</p>
<p>Get your health in order and relax. You have plenty of time to put in the hard work you need to get into ND or other good schools. Seven clubs is too many, do a few you feel really passionately about and make them meaningful…</p>
<p>You have plenty of time to bring your grades up and standardized test scores are very important, but as those above said, getting your health in order is the most inportant priority. Quality is better than quantity. Look at those seven clubs and follow only your passion. Notre Dame doesn’t ask “What seven things would you fight for?”, but instead “What would you fight for?” You will end up where you were meant to be, but wherever that may be, you want to arrive as a happy and healthy individual. Good Luck to you!</p>
<p>Thanks guys this is really encouraging advice… shellzie as a matter of fact I have looked into transferring into ND… I would do whatever it takes to get there. and thank you for the advice on applications heybails. What do you guys think if I drop the other clubs I am involved in and stick to the seven clubs that I founded. I think that founding them shows initiative and leadership. I am genuinely interested in them… But like you’ve all explained my mental peace is the first issue to resolve… thanks again everyone</p>
<p>Just curious, why do you like ND so much?</p>
<p>Well… There’s a lot about Notre Dame… my Grandfather went there for three years before he had to drop out and fight in World War II… When he came back he never went back to school because he had a serious case of post-traumatic stress. My father applied to Notre Dame and got in but my grandfather needed help paying high school tuition for my aunt and uncle, so he could not attend. My grandfather appreciated Notre Dame for the football team, great academics and the close community… all the cliches, basically. I apologize if I am rambling but Notre Dame just gets me crazy. My grandfather was the only one of his siblings (two other brothers) to not finish his time at Notre Dame. To the day he died he remarked how much he wished he went back there. The first time I visited campus, my great-uncle took us on a tour… and I was speechless. To quote Lou Holtz, “If you’ve been there, no explanation is necessary. If you haven’t, none is adequate.” I feel a connection to the campus because of its religious tradition, the Grotto, Basilica. But there’s more to ND than its campus; tremendous alumni network, nationally acclaimed teaching staff, high academic ranking and a nationally followed athletics program. The school has everything you could ask for (aside from maybe its location, but that does not bother me… everything you could need is on campus). I know I am more than a little crazy when it comes to this school. But I don’t know what life would be without Notre Dame. There’s nowhere else but Notre Dame.</p>
<p>I have not really had any interaction with Notre Dame beyond being a fan, but ND has inspired me to seek medical attention for my depression. When I feel like I need help focusing, I go to the Notre Dame website and read for hours. Once when I was at church, there was an old Irish woman I had never seen before, she made a comment on the sweatshirt I was wearing… “Do you go there?” At first I wasn’t sure what she was talking about, then I realized she was referencing my Notre Dame sweatshirt. I said, “No, I do not… but I hope to some day.” We spent a good ten minutes just talking about the University, its football team… the tradition. That’s what I like about Notre Dame. Two complete strangers, instantly share a bond over it. Notre Dame brings people together. I could write a novel about my love for Notre Dame… but I’ll stop rambling now. haha</p>