<p>I want to pursue a graduate degree in history from a prestigious school, but the problem is I had a low GPA my first year of community college getting a 1.0. I'm now a rising senior and brought my gpa back up to a 3.70 which wasn't easy (taking extra courses as well as summer school). Even though my GPA has gotten better will schools like Brown, U of Michigan, Stanford, etc. Have I messed up my chances in getting into those schools since they'll I messed up my freshman year? </p>
<p>Many of the top schools such as Stanford and Brown score holistically. Is there a special reason that caused your GPA to be so low? How do you separate yourself from others? If you are just a normal kid who messed up in high school and messed up again, I’m sorry to so say that you have absolutely no chance.</p>
<p>I assume “normal kid” as in not participating in ECs you mean? I happen to be apart of the history club, I play rugby as a club sport, I’m also part of a student government club known as college democrats as well as going abroad to japan as an exchange student for the spring 2015 semester etc. As for my reason of not doing good my freshman year is because of depression which I still have, but now I have medication for it.</p>
<p>Lol we all had depression. My father died of blood spike in diabetes when I was 14 but I maintained my high grades, no medications. By normal I meant has anything unique or devastating happen to you to cause your low GPA? And no, depression is not a unique excuse.</p>