Miracle Acceptance Stories(... and chance me?)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Georgetown University
1

<p>Hi,
I know this is long but I would be extremely grateful to anyone who can bear with me! I'm wondering if anyone has an "against the odds" (particularly transfer) acceptance stories for Georgetown University. I'm looking to major in linguistics. My GPA (3.4) and SAT (1990) are near minimum for the school for transfer students but I have qualities that are valued by the school including:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Earned Associates degree at the same time as high school diploma (first generation college student, had to work nearly 30 hours a week to pay for gasoline/books/fees/supplies through junior and senior years)</p></li>
<li><p>Held a position on college campus as a high school senior organizing the guest lecture series (featured author Sara Gruen of Water for Elephants that year), family programming events (children's art workshop, harvest festival), and service projects (food drive, environmental clean up day) all while $45,000 and $7,000 budgets. Acted as student representative on hiring and Services & Activities Budget committee with college officials. </p></li>
<li><p>Over 1700 hours of national service through an AmeriCorps program
* serving at a school the most diverse ZIP in the United States (literacy and language development)
* living on volunteer stipend at below the poverty line
* extra hours spent as homework help tutor to East African students at the local library and material inspection at the Braille library
* undergo weekly trainings on examining and undoing institutionalized racism in the United States</p></li>
<li><p>Hobbies include weekly Spanish language sessions with my Colombian conversation partner and Norwegian lessons to get in touch with my ancestral heritage</p></li>
<li><p>I expressed my goals of entering the Peace Corps in the Middle East and eventually establishing a publishing company that focuses on producing multilingual materials for children learning English to support literacy in both English and their native language.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>I also think that I've let my personality come through on my application in a positive way. Input is greatly appreciated!</p>

2

<p>You’ll be applying as a Junior? I think it will be difficult. Have any backup schools just in case?</p>

3

<p>Yes, a junior. I do have other schools, and Georgetown is my reach, but I’m wondering how much of a holistic review that they’ll do. The thing is that although I’m applying as a junior, I’ll be barely 19 if accepted because I got my A.A. degree at the same time as my diploma. I also am currently on a gap year doing an AmeriCorps program. My essays reflect a stronger sense of maturity in my view of academics and are very strong, as well.</p>

4

<p>Agreed, have back-ups. I think it would be Georgetown’s loss if they don’t accept you, though. You seem like a freaking amazing person.</p>

5

<p>Haha, thank you! That’s extremely kind.</p>

6

<p>All good schools do a “holistic” review, but that doesn’t mean that “numbers” aren’t important, only that if one’s numbers are competitive, they will look at other elements to determine which applicants should be admitted from among the gazillions with competitive numbers.</p>