Hi,
I graduated HS with a GPA of 4.4 and 2400 on the SAT and AP Calculus, Statistics, Mechanics, Music Theory and Spanish . I then went to a good music school but dropped out and sank into a mire of drug abuse, alcoholism and bankruptcy.
I have now been sober and clean for two years, during which I have been working as a tutor and a writer. I’ve had a couple articles published in respectable (non-scientific) journals. I’d really like to get into academia again and I’m wondering whether or not a person with a chaotic past, such as mine, would stand any chance of being considered for undergraduate studies at Ivy League or other top universities.
Any advice or thoughts would be most welcome.
Try posting in the non-traditional students forum, under college admissions. This forum is probably not the best place for your serious concerns. I am wondering why the desire for Top 20 colleges? If that is your goal, you may be setting yourself up for failure. You must be aware that students admitted to top collges usually have amazing credentials and haven’t had the issues that you have had. It’s great that you want to start over, but please don’t begin by putting obstacles in your way. Good luck to you, and I do hope you get into the college of your choice.
You have excellent stats, so why not give it a shot? People with troubled pasts have been known to get into top schools as long as they have an upward trend in grades and excellent test scores/recommendation letters/ECs/etc. It shows that you’ve persevered and succeeded in the face of an extreme adversity, which is quite admirable.
It’s probably a good idea to talk about your hardships in an essay, so that the failing grades you got at your first school will be explained. It’s important not to make the essay a pity party, but rather an exhibition of how you made your situation better. However, the alcoholism/drug use thing is problematic. If there’s any way you can explain your hardships without mentioning the illegal parts, that would be ideal. Don’t straight-up lie, though. If you have to lie to avoid mentioning alcohol/drugs, then scratch the idea.
If you have a criminal record, that could also be problematic. Colleges look at that. Try to get your charges waived by doing a diversion program. My friend did that after he got a MIC and got into Columbia.
All that being said, admissions into ivy leagues is never guaranteed, even for students who haven’t had issues like yours. Make sure to apply to plenty of matches and safeties. With your stats, you could get significant merit aid at state/middle-tier schools. Remember that you can still succeed no matter where you go undergrad. If you really want to go to an ivy, there’s always grad school.
Penn and Columbia have significant non-trad programs. They are big schools that parallel the other undergrad colleges at those universities. Financial aid is probably awarded differently at the non-trad schools compared with the rest of the undergrad colleges, so take care. There are threads on CC about these programs. Penn’s is UPenn LPS. Columbia’s is School of General Studies. You get the same degree as the other undergrad colleges but housing is also different. General Studies has a wide range of amazing alumni to its credit.
Cornell is known for taking transfer students from community colleges into its CALS program. You will need to apply directly to the CALS program that you want. I;m unclear about how transferring in works for the Cornell Arts and Sciences.
Harvard has the extension school where you are admitted by taking and doing well enough in three classes. The degree is different from the rest of Harvard, however.
Dartmouth has serious drinking and partying issues, so much so that in recent years applications have dropped by 14%. You may find this an advantage as maybe they would accept your stellar stats. But the party scene may prove too much for your taste.
Yale has the Eli scholars. You need to be I think 26 years old. Brown has non-trad program I think starting at age 26. Princeton I’m not sure about.
In thinking about how much you need to disclose about your time off from school, it’s really up to you, IMO. You would need to be truthful about criminal records, etc, but as far as any medical issues (and I personally consider drug and alcohol issues to be medical conditions) you’re entitled to your privacy. I think you could say that you had a medical condition, you’re okay now, and are now pursuing academia. You may need to show that you’re up to snuff academically by showing recent coursework. Also: beware of costs of attending these schools. Given a choice of a good school with good financial aid vs. one of these schools with lousy financial aid, choose the good cheap school and just do your best. Ivy grad schools accept fine scholars from virtually any school you could name.
Here is a list of schools attended by students who were later accepted into Harvard Law. As you can see, they run the gambit.
http://www.thecollegesolution.com/surprise-where-harvard-law-students-got-their-undergrad-degrees/