<p>From Kindergarten to Eighth Grade, I've been in special education for speech and learning disabilities. However, I overcame and adapted to these problems, and have been without supplemental help throughout high school. Like everyone else here, I'm doing the yale and all, and I'm far from spectacular numbers wise: 3.65 gpa, 1330. Coming from special ed, it's quite an accomplishment. Now I talked about my problems/struggles in my personal essay, and it's confirmed in my counselor rec and some documents I sent to college. Is my story an added bonus or a real hook?</p>
<p>I would say it's a bonus...
I mean, it's wonderful that you did overcome your disability and they will certainly appreciate what an affect it had on your life and your strength, determination and etc. But I'm not sure if it's a real hook. I know a couple of people who have learning disabilities in school and during the college process it's never been emphasized. I think you did the right thing by writing about it, but what colleges will do with it is a different story...in any case, I think you should just be really proud of yourself but don't depend on this to get you in.</p>
<p>I don't know if that would be a hook. Especially seeing as you're less than stellar academically.</p>
<p>hey there, i've got a speech impediment too, and I did indeed write about it in my essays. In my case, the story was a bonus--never a hook. I'd still like to think that my main strength is in academics :D</p>
<p>The thread originator's main obstacle was learning disabilities, not so much the speech impediment. Still, a 3.65 weighted GPA will usually not make the final cut at Yale. You never know though, and as Greg Norman would say "never up, never in". If you don't apply to Yale, you have a 0.00% chance of getting in. An applicant with any kind of hook at all has at least a 0.2% chance.</p>
<p>true--I was merely commenting on the only obstacle in the post to which I could relate...</p>
<p>Is it a hook? Well, maybe not in the sense a hook is referred to here on cc. But it is proof of great accomplishment and determination, and that is certainly a plus. Yale.edu is right, if you don't apply you'll have 0.00%. Go for it, and good luck!</p>
<p>If you don't, you might end up wondering "what if i had applied?" </p>
<p>i wish you best of luck.</p>
<p>Thanks all for responding, we'll see how it turns out.</p>