Ivy League and LD/PDs

Parents Forum Learning Differences and Challenges - LD, ADHD
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<p>I had posted this in the Columbia forum, but no one replied, and just realized that there was a place dedicated to LDs, so I decided to repost here. </p>

<p>How does Columbia (or any top school) view physical and learning disabilities? My GPA isn't as strong as others on here (4.37), but my ACT (34) is up to par, I think. I also spent lots of time doing volunteering/work, and have been recognized by Congress for it. Due to my disabilities, it is very hard for me to finish work in a timely fashion, and teachers always docked points, whether it be tests or homework. It has only been fixed this year (senior year), but my overall GPA is not competitive. </p>

<p>I read online that in top schools, if two people have similar stats but one is disabled, they will accept the one that is "normal." My essay was about how I overcame my disability..and now I'm thinking it wasn't such a good idea. If someone could shed light on this, I would really appreciate it. </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>The purpose of the college application essay is to showcase yourself for the individual talent set you might bring to the table and how this would contribute to the cultural atmosphere of a given university/college. </p>

<p>If student has had to gone through great lengths to overcome struggles then it highlights their perseverance, strength, and motivation. </p>

<p>A problem w/ many of these types of responses is that some students come across with “oh, look at poor me… I have such low performance! Would you still be willing to accept me?”</p>

<p>Instead, applicants want to phrase it differently … i.e. “in spite of challenges I have reached beyond … and made accomplishments (and thrived) in this area. My personal experiences have inspired me to study such and such subject to be prepared for such and such career.” </p>

<p>Hope this helps!</p>