<p>I am a college senior who will be applying to colleges soon. My first choice is Vassar, but I am open to others. Academically, I am not the strongest candidate. My attendance record for my first two years of high school was bad due to serious sports injuries that left me unable to walk, and this directly impacted my grades. My junior year, I was diagnosed with a very serious chronic illness, and my attendence for this year was even worse, but I managed to pull a 3.8 culmulative GPA for the year. </p>
<p>Anyway, I believe my current information is something like this: 3.6 gpa (give or take?) and 1920 sats (retaking them, most likely!). i still need to take my sat subject tests. in addition, this is an unweighted gpa; i have taken honors and ap classes whenever available, along with a rigorous schedule including two different foreign languages. my school does not offer ib. i know that i can get extremely high recommendations from my teachers.</p>
<p>Extra curriculars- Administrative Vice President of DECA, two-time state DECA competitor, French Club, Spanish Club, Key Club, Knowledge Bowl</p>
<p>Volunteerism- tutoring of elemtary age students in reading and math, volunteered at an abused horse shelter, about 400 hours of church volunteering so far (working in the nursery, leading groups of young children, camp counselor, etc...). </p>
<p>in addition, i also hold a job.</p>
<p>Finally- I am well aware I do not hold the qualifications some of their top candidates do; I know how competative their admissions process is. I am wondering if a truly amazing essay could make a difference? I have written an essay that is pretty good. It is about the struggles I have had with my health, going through three years of serious treatment to heal my injuries only to be diagnosed with a potentially deadly chronic illness. I've been told it's a pretty inspiring story, so I suppose my question is this: even if i may not be at the academic level of other candidates, is it possible that they will take into consideration some extenuating circumstances, and my essay will actually give me a pretty decent shot? To clarify, my essay is by no means "woe is me, my life is so difficult so you should excuse my gpa"- it just tells about my battle and how it's changed me as a person, affected my life, etc... </p>
<p>I would really appreciate any insight, thanks!!!</p>