<p>I'm not talking about any super super competitive schools, but I would like to apply to some decent schools. How considerate do you think they might be of special circumstances like illness and family problems, bad school environment, etc? I feel like i'm being severly limited in my school options, and want to know if there's any ways to make myself seem like a good potential student.</p>
<p>Put Emphasis on your willingness to get envolved, instead of your current lack of envolvenent.
Schools are usualy pretty understanding of things like that though.</p>
<p>When I called a few schools, they all seemed pretty impressed with all the extracurriculars i've involved myself in for the past few years. Do you think I would be able to call and see if I can speak to admissions officers and discuss this? I feel really stupid just sending in my application, honestly. I can get good recommendations, I have good extracurriculars that i'm very involved in them, and i've been working extremely hard to get good ACT and SAT scores...but on paper I look incompetent and lazy. I'm not sure if i'm overreacting, but I really want to show that i'm able to work well in this environment.</p>
<p>christi -
You will have an interview before you send in your application. That is when you can talk about special circumstances. Not in a negative way, but in a "these are the things that have happened in my life" kind of way.<br>
Also your essay/short answer questions on the application in many cases allow for you to write about challenges overcome, etc and you can work that in. You don't have to be finding a cure for cancer to be a great applicant.</p>
<p>If your situation really has presented challenges, it might be wise to enlist the services of an educational consultant. Many ECs have strong relationships with various prep schools and can get past the red tape to really explain the circumstances behind an applicant's profile.</p>
<p>Thanks. I did ask about that, or even a phone interview. I'm considering talking to an admissions counselor before sending my packet in.</p>
<p>I might also look into a consultant. It could really help out I think, especially since I think we're all pretty clueless. Thank you as well.</p>
<p>Christi,
My D was out sick a year and had a few Fs with her home school teachers (too sick to do the work). She was all As before and after. We covered it with both the school letter and a letter from her doctor and in the interviews. She even used it in one of her essays.</p>
<p>Don't worry about it. You may not get into one school, but several others will open for you.</p>
<p>s it a boarding school or college that you are looking for? The BS are not looking for act and sat's. (Not that I know of..)</p>
<p>Boarding schools. On the websites of various schools I looked at though, it said they would accept an ACT or SAT score for incoming juniors and seniors.</p>
<p>Thanks Princess'sDad. One school did tell me I could write out an explanation of some kind which I will probably do if I apply there.</p>
<p>It seems like there are a lot more options than I thought...i'm still paranoid though. I don't want to give a bad impression.</p>
<p>christi, I think you will have many more options than you see now. If you can manage an educational consultant, that would probably be the best thing you can do now. I have started working with one who was suggested by a poster here. If you'd like the name, PM me.</p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>I'll have to talk about this with my parents (probably sometime next week). Even if it means no boarding school, this will probably be really helpful in just finding a school.</p>