<p>(Sorry its long....please read...big question at the bottom...thanks everyone! I appreciate it!)</p>
<p>My son is a senior and applying to college this year. He has been looking at top schools and two ivies. All of his life he has been disabled. He is completely blind in his left eye and has only 50 % vision in his right eye. He goes to a public school, and lives his life normally. He has a 4.0 and excels in all of his classes. His guidance counselor even says he is the brightest student she has ever encountered. His disability has not in any way hampered his life. He has founded two non-profit organizations, runs track and cross country, and is the president of his class. But as a mother I am concerned with how the college will look at his ACT score. He has a 25 composite but took the test under standard time conditions without any help. He qualifies for testing over multiple days, a scribe, and a reader or aide. He doesn't have enough time to finish the test under standard time conditions and it would take him more than a time and a half to completely finish. I keep telling him to go ahead and make use of these benefits, but he is too stubborn to listen and refuses. I guess this isn't a bad thing since he has been independent all of his life and doesn't believe in special favors. In his book, you live with what you got. He hasn't even bothered learning braille, saying "I can read just as good as anybody else." He takes pride in his work and doesn't look to anyone for help. </p>
<p>His guidance counselor is trying to schedule another ACT test for sometime in january (probably the 19), just so he can try and improve....if that doesn't work we'll take the Feb 9 ACT. He has already sent his 25 to the schools but he wants to take it again. Unfortunately he still won't use extended time....ergh!</p>
<p>His guidance counselor will write a letter explaining his disability and his reasons for not utilizing help on the ACT. She will say he could have easily pulled a high score in the 34-36 region with extended time. She will also mention the economic rearch he has been doing and how one must be very advanced in calculus to be able to do what my son is doing. </p>
<p>REAL QUESTION: Will the colleges take into consideration that he could have scored in the high 30's if he had used extended time? Or will they base their decision on his 25? Will the college admire this, or look down upon it?
Do colleges have the same admissions standards for those with disabilities? </p>
<p>Schools He's Applying to:
Cornell.
University of Pennsylvania.
University of Virginia.
Vanderbilt University.
William and Mary.
University of Michigan.</p>
<p>He needs to explain in his essay that he did not use the extra time and talk about making due with what he has, adcoms might like that. in a pool of kids who are doing everything they possibly can to get in, they might be like "this is a cool kid, he does stuff his own way and he didn't use any special advantages"</p>
<p>I think he should use the special advantages that are offer to him. It's important to show colleges what you are capable of (your best efforts). I would highly recommend your son to use the helps. I understand his independent but score in the 30s are much better looking than the 20s. </p>
<p>If he is still stubborn about it then he should write a letter to the colleges explaining why. Best of luck :)</p>
<p>thats a good point too. its kinda shady to say "I could have done well, I just chose not to," ...colleges might question if he really could do well. An even better essay would be about getting a 36 and a 4.0 in spite of his blindness, without mentioning the extra time.</p>
<p>Your son is truly exceptional and would benefit any college. It is wonderful that he does not rely on special treatment, he will most certainly be successful in life.</p>
<p>In this case it's foolish not to take the accomodation. 25 is too much below the top school averages to make schools know he can do the work.</p>
<p>I'm afraid to say....If unfortunately he won't take the extended time...Will he have a chance at top schools? (even if he writes a letter...along with the guidance counselor)</p>
<p>A score of 25 will be crippling. even if he explains it, the adcoms will still look at the score in the same light because for all they know, he used the extra time and still got a 25. they offered him extra time for a reason, and right now he is cheating himself out of an education, it's a very sad thing</p>
<p>He might want to consider taking the SAT as well, just to see how he does. The ACT is much more time pressured. And some kids just naturally do better on the SAT or vice versa. Of course, it probably means he'll need to take some SAT IIs-but perhaps he already has?</p>
<p>He can retake with the extra time and justify that decision by telling schools that he got extra time in his supplemental materials. If he's not using extra time in his classes, his teacher recommendations could mention that fact.</p>
<p>I really wish the ACT/SAT would let everyone have extra time if they wanted, and just mark the test identifying those given extra time. If college students are really drinking/partying much of the time, then it shouldn't be hard to justify admitting someone who will spend 50% more time studying than the typical kid.</p>
<p>He will be an asset to any campus and any students he comes in contact with will be inspired by him................you should be proud to be his mom. One of my best friends at William and Mary is disabled with Cerebal Palsy (sp?). Don't know the specifics of his testing but do know that he, like your son, had very good grades in high school. He needed assistance to take the SAT's. I can only speak for William and Mary. Their admissions department is very personal and top-notch. Call them (I'm just a student but this is what I think) and explain as his mom exactly what is going on. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. You will be surprised at the personalized attention and concern you receive. If he were my son, I would do everything I could to help him.................he's proven he is capable of doing extremely well. Any college on your list would be happy to have your son. You are still your son's advocate...............make those calls!!! Best of luck.</p>