<p>Hi :)
I read threads on this site all the time but I have yet to come across one that helps me with my situation. I'm originally a Pakistani citizen, I just moved to the USA a few months ago. I have had to move around my whole life because my parents are diplomats, so incidentally this is the 8th country i'm living in. Earlier in my life I skipped 5th and 7th grade but due to moving around so much I fell back into the same age group as my classmates. In the 9th grade I was diagnosed with severe anxiety and panic disorder so my grades faltered. I got over that (without the anti depressants, might I add) Last year I was diagnosed with a mild form of Epilepsy. That, along with the incessant moves around the world have left me with a rather low, 3.0 GPA. I did manage to take an AP course and get a 4, even though I arrived (literally) right in the middle of the school year. I want to go to a good college, I really do. I just don't know what type of colleges would accept me given my situation. I'm not the brightest person in the world, but I'm by no means dumb. Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you.</p>
<p>Have you taken the SAT or the ACT? If you do well there, it should still help you get into some decent colleges. You will also need to get some strong letter of recommendations in order to get into some privates. Also, if you can demonstrate some talents that will be a plus.</p>
<p>“my parents are diplomats”</p>
<p>You need to sit down with your parents and talk about how much money is available to pay for your education, and which country they would prefer that you study in. It might be best for you to look for a university that will be in the country that they are posted to during your college years, or in a country that is nearby.</p>
<p>You also need to make certain that wherever you end up, you have access to good medical care for your epilepsy and to counselors who can help you if your depression returns. Those factors may be more important than anything else when you start college.</p>
<p>As for admissions in general, there plenty of colleges and universities in the US that will be happy to admit you if you have a 3.0. Visit the Parents Forum, and look for the threads with titles like “East Coast schools for my 3.0 kid” to get some ideas.</p>
<p>Hello, like the other posters have said. Getting good SAT and ACT Scores (which shouldn’t be affected too much by your problems, which I have had too: a mild form of epilepsy and a serious anxiety disorder) will definitely help you. You will be noticed no matter your GPA if your SAT scores are good.</p>
<p>Now, writing an essay about all of those trials will definitely help you. However, you have to make it clear that those were challenges that you faced AND overcame. While colleges like to help students that have faced challenges, they don’t want students that seem they WILL be challenged still or will be a challenge for the college itself. </p>
<p>I found a post by an alum interviewer from several years ago where she disclosed a list that a good public school uses in admissions relating to challenges in schooling, so this may actually benefit your application, take a look:</p>
<p>PERSONAL DIFFICULTIES & PERSEVERANCE:
This is based on a reading of the personal statement for documentation of the applicant’s ability to persist and overcome unusual, seemingly insurmountable difficulties or challenges which may have affected the applicant’s ability to achieve full academic potential during middle or high school. </p>
<p>Points
We strongly consider factors over which the student has little or no control and which are inevitably linked to the student’s academic achievement. Difficulties and challenges usually involve multiple factors, such as:
A history of low income
Adverse home environment
Unusual family disruption
Drug, physical and mental abuse
Unusual medical/emotional problems
Frequent change of schools (3 or more high schools)
Lack of exposure to appropriate role models
Adverse immigration experience within the past five years
English as a second language
Assumption of role as primary caretaker of the family
Unusual disruption in school, residential or tribal community (e.g., long-term school strikes, widespread natural disasters, etc.)
Active discouragement or severe lack of support from family or school personnel</p>
<p>No points
Isolated events of short duration that have little or no effect on the student’s academic development, such as:
Short-term illness such as a broken leg, flu
Short-term adverse incidents (e.g., short-term closure of school due to inclement weather, short-term absences from school to care for a family member, etc.)
Situations or circumstances that the student is capable of changing but did not do so.
Unfocused student
Dislike of school and teachers
Elective trips and vacations during the school year
Elective employment
Elective community, social, recreational and other extracurricular activities."</p>
<p>By the way, what is “elective employment”? I thought holding down a job while in high school was a plus. No points for employment?</p>
<p>GlobalMom, I believe it would be a plus to hold a job but it wouldn’t excuse less-than perfect scores or GPA, which is what that section is for, problems that are out of the students control. It isn’t that it’s a negative it just doesn’t apply to “personal difficulties and perseverance” for points.</p>
<p>Thank you for your responses.
First of all, I am definitely planning to go to college in the US. My parents have been posted here for four years and I will be going into senior year come September. Secondly, I have recovered pretty well from my conditions. I don’t have any symptoms of depression or anxiety and am rather happy. Also, I haven’t had a seizure in about 6 months and counting so that’s a victory for me. Lastly, I have a 2250 0n my SAT and a 34 on my ACT, and I go to rather challenging school; one that is nationally ranked. Does any of this help?</p>
<p>“I go to rather challenging school; one that is nationally ranked.”</p>
<p>If your school has a number of diplomatic dependents enrolled each year, the guidance counselors there are expert at helping students like you get into good colleges and universities. Talk with them about your record. They will have lot of ideas for you.</p>