<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 ivies, 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>It definitely will! Too bad I never knew I have a learning disability until last year. I struggled with reading, but no one cared.</p>
<p>Your accomplishments are very admirable. My son also has a LD. We were advised not to play this up in college applications. It could easily be a red flag that you may have issues in college. Be careful how you present this and good luck.</p>
<p>Kirmum's advice on how you present yourself is absolutely valid - you don't want to sound like you're having your own pity-party. From your post, your determination and your accomplishments in the face of such disability will be looked upon well, but I doubt it will be a "real hook". As kirmum stated, colleges may view it as a risk: "a red flag that you may have issues in college". Hopefully you displayed maturity, intellectual curiosity and an ability to deal with a college-level environment in your application, and hopefully the school part of your application will confirm this. Good Luck!</p>
<p>kirmum--could you say what kind of source gave you the advice not to "play up" the LD?</p>
<p>Not to offend anyone, but Colleges, which exist for learning, might not look that highly at learning disabilities.</p>
<p>Samp,
People with LDs are not unable to learn and may be highly intelligent and creative. They have difficulties learning through certain channels and methods (different from case to case) but can use alternative strategies and compensation techniques. When they succeed, this is often a testimony to will power, drive and perseverance in the face of obstacles.</p>
<p>Depends on how you portray the disability. If evidence exists in your application file that you would have difficulty handling the work at an Ivy League college, then you probably won't get admitted. If there are no outside signs that you'd have trouble, and if your application file shows you to be very intelligent and creative (despite your average stats ... at least for the Ivies), then you should be admitted.</p>
<p>Joey</p>
<p>It was the college counselor at a private school that has had many kids with Lds over the years. While State schools must have accomodations, private colleges do not. What concerned me here is that the scores are low for ivies and an assumption may well be made that it would be hard for the op to keep up.</p>