Illness and College; an application adventure

In late 1999, during my sophmore year of highschool, I came down with mono, which never went away, and I was later diagnosed with both Chronic Fatigue and Lyme Disease. Anyway, I’m finally healthy, but my transcript isn’t especially impressive. I have an A/A- average in the most challenging classes I could take for 1.5 years, and then it drops off. I was able to get a few extra credits over the next few years, but that’s it.

I’m now looking to go to college, so I got a GED (800 out of 800 on every section except science, in which I got a 690 somehow), took the SAT (1590, 800 in math), and took three SAT IIs (800 Math IIc, 800 writing, 770 Physics). I’m currently taking Calculus and English Composition at the local community college, 2 courses being the maximum for those whose GEDs were not processed yet, and hope to take a fuller course load in the spring.

Currently my list looks like:
Vassar
Haverford
Connecticut College
Skidmore
Washington University
University of Delaware (I’d go free, my dad works there)
Pitzer

The question is, am I being too optimistic? Too pessimistic? Am I not applying to enough schools, and if that’s the case, what are some other schools, preferably some that would be likely to give me fair consideration, that would be similar to those listed above? It’s been very hard to get reliable information on how colleges will look at my situation.

<p>Some schools are more understanding than others ^_^ Your test scores are amazing and I think you'll have an easy time getting into at least 3/4ths of your college list. Best of luck! :)</p>

<p>Wow... thats quite a tale. </p>

<p>You're numbers are really good.. and it seems like you're doing to the most you can to get yourself on the right track. If I was a college... I'd take you. But alas, I am not. I think you have good chances at those schools.</p>

<p>good luck.</p>

<p>Check the requirements for each school regarding GED applicants as some schools require 5 SAT ii's. You should contact each schools admissions department regarding any supplemental infor because you are applying with a GED.</p>

<p>How will you get the teacher/GC recs? Vassar asks for a graded paper frim your Junior or senior year</p>

<p>Regarding conn College:</p>

<p>Q: What are the most important criteria in the admission process?
A: The rigor of your high school program is what carries the most weight in the admission process. Have you pushed yourself academically and intellectually even in the subjects you don't like? Or, did you opt for the easy A in a college prep curriculum when you knew you would have been challenged more in the honors/AP track? The level of courses you take say two things to us. One, it gives us a better sense of your preparation for the demands of college work. The higher level your courses, the better you will be prepared. Two, it says something to us about your intellectual motivation and curiosity. You are not satisfied to just get by with good grades. You are driven by the quest to stretch yourself conceptually and be challenged by your teachers and your classmates. </p>

<p>Other parts of your application that are important to us are your essay, recommendations (one from an academic teacher and one from your counselor), extracurricular activities, and interview. </p>

<p>Q: What does Connecticut College require from home schooled students?
A. If you are a home schooled student, we welcome your application to Connecticut College. There are a few things you should keep in mind when you are submitting your application. First, you must have a high school diploma or the equivalent GED. In addition, your letters of recommendation should not come from your parents. Instead many students submit letters from classes they may have taken through a local college or from people the have volunteered or worked for. You should also try to have an interview, if possible, with an alumni representative or an admissions officer either on campus or in your home state. The home schooled students who are successful applicants to the College have generally availed themselves of community college or distance learning courses through an accredited educational organization, and who participate in extracurricular activities at the local level. </p>

<p>Skidmore accepts the GED Diploma</p>

<p>You can apply to Haverford with a GED</p>

<p>Pitzer</p>

<p>Application Process</p>

<p>Pitzer College has adopted new admission criteria for first-year students to provide applicants with greater flexibility in presenting application materials that accurately reflect their diverse academic abilities and potentials. Starting with the first-year students applying for admission for Fall 2004, and continuing for a trial period of three years, Pitzer will exempt students graduating in the top 10% of their class, or those who have an unweighted cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher in academic subjects (i.e., courses in the humanities, mathematics, sciences and social sciences), from having to submit any standardized tests (i.e., ACT or SAT). Applicants not falling into either one of those categories will be required to submit at least one of the following options: </p>

<p>ACT scores, or
SAT I scores, or
Two SAT II scores (one must be in writing and one in mathematics), or
Two or more Advanced Placement test scores of at least 4 (one must be in English or English Language, and one in mathematics or a natural science), or
Two International Baccalaureate exams: one must be in English 1A and one must be in the Mathematics Methods (Standard Level), or a higher-level course in mathematics, </p>

<p>or </p>

<p>One recent junior or senior year graded, analytical writing sample from a humanities or social science course, AND one recent graded exam from an advanced mathematics course (i.e., algebra II or above). The samples must include the teacher’s comments, grades, and the assignment. </p>

<p>All the best</p>

<p>I'd not heard anything about any schools requiring extra SAT IIs for GED candidates, so that's a bit of an unpleasant surprise. I suppose I could try to do day of test registration for the upcoming december test date.</p>

<p>RE: Graded papers, I would use a paper from the english class at the community college.</p>

<p>edit: And I'm getting a recommendation from an old highschool math teacher, hopefully one from my current community college english teacher, and one from a guy/friend who I've done a whole lot of odd jobs (moving, etc.) for over the past 5 years.</p>

<p>That is why I siad contact the college admissions office. There is a similar thread here where the studen tasked if they needed a diploma.</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=8486&highlight=diploma%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=8486&highlight=diploma&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>There situation was a little different because this is a current H.S. senior looking to opt out and get a GED and wanted ti jknow if his list of schools would take the GED.</p>