hearing impaired (disability student) trying for ivy league

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm a hearing imparied, disability student and I want to know what are my chances in getting into an ivy league. Lot of people had been putting me down because I'm a disability, but that's not stopping me. I'm a jr now, here's the status so far...</p>

<p>Background
-hearing impaired
-chinese
-has a single parent
-father is alummi of Cornell
-possible major (biomedical engineering)</p>

<p>Freshman year
courses
-world history
-chinese II
-LA I
-Algebra I
-Biology
GPA 3.5
extra
-orchestra (play viola)
-color guard
-piano
-kung-fu (orange belt)
-yearbook (co-editor of Art section)</p>

<p>Sophmore year
courses
-American Studies I
-Chinese III
-LA II
-Geometry
-Chemistry
GPA 3.3
extra
-orchestra
-piano
-colorguard
-work and teach (Lifeguard, Lifeguard and CPR certified)
-yearbook (co-editor of Art section)</p>

<p>Jr year
courses
-American Studies II
-Chinese IV Honors
-Art of the Essay LA
-Rebelion and Conformity LA
-Advance Algebra II
-Physics
current GPA 3.5
extra
-orchestra
-piano
-Co-Captain of color guard
-JV cheerleading
-Red Cross (meetings and Habitat for Humanity)
-Lifeguarding
-yearbook the achedemic section</p>

<p>plan for senior year
-AP Government (may change because rumors says the teacher is REALLY hard, possibly change into economics)
-Chinese V Honors (AP Chinese)
-poltitic and government LA
-world to passport LA
-Pre-Calculus
-AP Biology
plan to have GPA stable to 3.5 or higher
extra
-orchestra
-piano
-Lifeguarding
-cheerleading (unknown level, maybe JV again)
-colorguard (undecided on who's CAP't next year, hopfully me)
-Red Cross
-yearbook (unknown for section)</p>

<p>took the NEW SAT during March, score doesn't look to pretty (1590)
now i'm planning to take Math IC, Physics, and Biology SAT II
then I'm getting a tutor over the summer to help me study for the SAT for October.</p>

<p>I think my heart longs to be in NYC, where I was born. I would like to go to Colombia</p>

<p>feel free to give me some advice</p>

<p>any disability students on the board?</p>

1 Like
2

<p>Wow, we have a lot of things in common! I have a profound hearing loss and wears a cochlear implant. I am a junior, and I want to go to Princeton and other good schools (Duke, UVA, etc.). Unfortunately, some people tell me to go to a community or liberal art college, but, like you, I refuse to listen to them. So, you are doing a right thing- follow your own heart, but at the same time, think about the disability service colleges provide and the size of classroom that might help you succeed more. I also want to tell you that your background will give you a boost. Third, I understand why your SAT score is very low because I have a low SAT score (because of my CR) too! But, I suggest you to retake it, and if you are still not satisfied with it, you should take the ACT (people do much better in verbal; straightforward test). I also suggest you to explain to the colleges why your standardized test score appears low. Fourth, colleges like to see consistency in your EC. So, you appear to have some, but I cannot tell what your interest is- it is like random. I hope colleges will see how hard-working you are. Good luck!</p>

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<p>"Unfortunately, some people tell me to go to a community or liberal art college, but, like you, I refuse to listen to them. ""</p>

<p>Certainly, you don't need to go to a community college as your stats indicate you would be able to do well at a 4-year college.</p>

<p>However, it is no insult for me and others to suggest that you consider going to a liberal arts college. </p>

<p>Many liberal arts colleges are actually harder to get into than are many Ivy League schools.</p>

<p>They also are extremely well regarded because of the high quality of teaching, the emphasis on undergrduate education, and the high level of research that undergraduates can do on their campuses. On the whole, a higher proportion of graduates at top LACs get doctoral degrees than is the case at many Ivies, including top Ivies.</p>

<p>LACs such as Amherst, Williams, Swarthmore, and Pomona are tougher to get into than are some Ivies. </p>

<p>Due to the smaller class size and emphasis on teaching, it also may be easier for students with hearing problems to have fullfilling experiences in classes at LACs than they may at colleges that may have several hundred people in some classes.</p>

<p>Instead of writing off LACs, I suggest that you take the time to look at some of the web sites, and to learn about how they are different than are research institutions such as HPYS.</p>

<p>LACs certainly aren't worse than are Ivies or research institutions. They offer a different college experience -- going to an institution that focuses on undergraduate education, which depending on what you want out of your college experience could be a plus.</p>