<p>My little brother killed himself 3 years ago, would this be a hook at top colleges because they think that I overcame a tough situation to get a 3.9 and 2100 sat?</p>
<p>Of course I hate what happened, but I still want to maximize my college admissions chances.</p>
<p>look, it hurts a lot. I'm not a horrible person.</p>
<p>I'm still stressed about college admissions just like the rest of you, and everyone is looking for any possible edge he can get, ok?</p>
<p>it should help, but not much.</p>
<p>yeah but the thing is that if it weren't for having to deal with this event, I probably could've gotten a 4.2 and a 2250. Will colleges account for this do you think?</p>
<p>look I'm just a kid stressed out about college admissions who wants any possible edge ok? Geez, I'm just asking a question, don't judge. thanks. I would never ask this question for any of my parents, friends, teachers, college counselers, etc. to hear, but on Internet forum like this, I can get an honest answer while noone knowing I actually asked it, ok?</p>
<p>You and your family have my sympathies. Having a loved one commit suicide is an even more difficult experience than is having relative die through most other means.</p>
<p>Yes, admissions officers do take into account when students have experienced the kind of tragedy that you describe. Have your GC include the info.</p>
<p>If your brother's death has inspired you to consider entering a mental health profession or if it has led to your doing community service for an organization like National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or Survivors of Suicide (This is for people whose loved ones have committed suicide, and it also helps people who are considering suicide) or for organizations that work to prevent suicide, that could be something to focus on in your essay.</p>
<p>If you're not familiar with Survivors of Suicide, here's a link: Survivors</a> of Suicide - Suicide Survivors - Survivors of Suicide Support Groups</p>
<p>The usual advice seems to be have your guidance counselor mention hardship rather than writing a "poor me" sort of essay. And I would think you could get more helpful advice if you had a different thread title.</p>
<p>Ooops! Crosspost with Northstarmom! As usual,couldn't say it better...</p>
<p>I have deleted several comments that violated terms of service because they were flames. A reminder that College Confidential doesn't allow posts that make negative comments about posters. Posters who don't follow these guidelines risk losing their posting privileges.</p>
<p>This</p>
<p>"I would've gotten a 2250 and 4.2 instead of 2100 and 3.9 if this event hadn't happened"</p>
<p>seems different from this</p>
<p>"colleges that would look at me fairly and see that I am more than just numbers."</p>
<p>The latter would be the start of a great new thread....</p>
<p></p>
<p>I'm just asking about schools that would take into account the fact that I would've gotten a 2250 and 4.2 instead of 2100 and 3.9 if this event hadn't happened, alright? I'm not asking for a hook, I just want to know colleges that would look at me fairly and see that I am more than just numbers. For example, I heard the Ivies care a lot about your personal background and such, while state universities like ut and uva care way more just about numbers.
ok?</p>
<p>Your stats are good enough to get you into most colleges in the country. Virtually all of the other colleges would consider the fact that you managed to obtain high stats despite having a tragedy occur during your high school years. If the tragedy that your family experienced has inspired you to do something to try to prevent others from suffering such pain, then that would make you stand out even more in admissions. </p>
<p>The colleges that would not consider the tragedy are likely to be some public universities that make admissions decisions strictly by stats.</p>
<p>Your brother's suicide would not ever, however, be considered a "hook" because a hook is something that would virtually guarantee you admission because you'd have some unusual characteristic that a college would consider rare and very desirable. An example would be having a parent who's a multimillionaire donor.</p>
<p>"I'm just asking about schools that would take into account the fact that I would've gotten a 2250 and 4.2 instead of 2100 and 3.9 if this event hadn't happened, alright? I'm not asking for a hook, I just want to know colleges that would look at me fairly and see that I am more than just numbers. "</p>
<p>I got that part; in fact I quoted it. But asking if someone knows of a school that will GIVE you 150 points on your SAT and .3 on your GPA for a specific adversity (BTW, where do you get those figures?) sounds a lot like what some would call "a hook" ( like a legacy or URM ), and something I don't think anyone could or would want to guess. OTOH, many would respond supportively if you asked what schools factor in your personal backround.</p>
<p>Oh, I see....the deleted posts are changing things a bit...</p>
<p>I sympathize with your situation, and I understand your anger at people who lash out at you. I agree that they're wrong and I understand what you're asking. The main reason they react that way is simply the way you phrase it, making it sound like you consider your brother in terms of numbers. I know that you don't, but that's just how it can seem to other people.</p>
<p>Okay, just wanted to try to explain to try to avoid more harsh reactions and bad feelings. I'm sure colleges will consider it. I don't think they'll arbitrarily add numbers to your GPA and SAT. I do think that they will see what you did manage to accomplish, the 3.9 and 2100, and see your strength at pulling through such an event and being able to achieve at a high level. Personally, I find this more appealing than any jump in numbers.</p>
<p>I don't think it will be the make or break hook but if you include it as a reason for why your grades aren't as high as they should be, of course colleges will take it into consideration. You don't necessarily have to write your essay on the incident though.</p>
<p>I am sorry for your loss. Certainly overcoming a hardship may be helpful. In terms of writing about the experience, I heard an admission counselor say the best essay he ever read was about a kid's struggle with acne! Admission folks are just that...folks. Who knows what will strike a chord vs. be perceived as an attempt to gain sympathy.</p>
<p>I'm really sorry for your loss. But I don't think you should try to take advantage of this tragic situation in your apps too much, because adcoms might consider you a bit of an opportunist (I'm not saying you ARE, but they might think so); I would mention it briefly, never EVER go for the "pity votes"; if you mention it briefly (or ask if your GC's/teachers/anyone adds it in their rec's..), the effect will me much bigger, I guess.</p>
<p>Good luck with applying, and overcoming this tragedy.</p>
<p>this kinda reminds me of how I wish I could cure cancer because it would be a wicked EC</p>
<p>^haha. you are horrible people (unless AlexE was being facetious). By the way, I had a parent die of cancer. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.</p>