<p>So really not an "essays matter more than stats" situation. HER essay mattered more than her SAT scores because her story was extraordinary.</p>
<p>Asa</p>
<p>I think that is awesome news for your sister!!</p>
<p>However, I would not consider her "as average as they come." She is extraordinary, and that is what HYS wants.</p>
<p>All the best to both of you!</p>
<p>Wow, that is an incredible story. That said, I wouldn't consider this is a miracle because your sister demonstrated extreme perseverance and self-respect. Congratulations to her, she definitely earned it, and I hope things work out for you guys.</p>
<p>Asa,
I hope you and your sister are doing better now. Wow, what a life. "Miracle" is how you guys managed to make it through those circumstances. Yup, a miracle did happen in that sense. Congratulations to both of you for fighting for what you believe in!</p>
<p>Asa wrote this in another thread:</p>
<p>"UGA Honors hands down. Period. My sister is in the Honors College right now; she would ALWAYS complain about UGA in high school (stupid people, red neck, football atmosphere, etc.) and now she's absolutely in love. She's very bright, and kind of an "indie chic" girl - a free spirit, and she feels right at home at UGA and in Athens. Large classes aren't an issue either - she's a sophomore and her classes had 3 students, 8 students, 17 students, and 32 students last semester. She said this is, for Honors Students, quite typical."</p>
<p>Curious. Asa, do you have 2 sisters, or is this the same one?</p>
<p>Actually, I have 4 sisters and 2 brothers. Unfortunately, neither my sister mentioned in this thread nor I talk to our other siblings any more - they are still involved in the church. We hear about our siblings through our aunt and step-uncle.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your kind words.</p>
<p>Your sister who is still under the church's influence is the sophmore at UGA Honors college? She spoke about UGA all the time -- does this mean she attended HS in the GA vicinity?</p>
<p>Asa thank you for telling us about the content of the essay. I am glad things worked out so well. </p>
<p>You are free to do as you wish, but in the interest of privacy I would advise you to be careful how much specific information you post on this public forum.</p>
<p>Awesome! She must be a great girl! :)</p>
<p>This is not a miracle. Your sister is obviously an excellent student, and she got what she deserved -- a reward for her hard work and skill.</p>
<p>I've only read the OP (as in most cases...;)) but...</p>
<p>your point? Of course exceptions happen with anything..</p>
<p>Old thread is old...</p>
<p>She applied to those four schools with a 1980 SAT? wouldn't those 4 be considered far reaches for her? i guess she was very fortunate that she didn't take those off her list! congrats to her!</p>
<p>wow...congrats!! is your sister normally good at writing?..I assume..</p>
<p>If you guys read through the thread, this girl had an amazing story. Probably could have been 100+ points lower and still gotten in. Truly an amazing story.</p>
<p>agreed.^</p>
<p>such an incredible story...congratulation to both of you! =]</p>
<p>wow...congrats to your sister!!</p>
<p>out of curiosity, do you know what her gpa was? (weighted)</p>
<p>A kid from my graduating class had a similar situation to Asa's sister - as far as scores go. He was orphaned at 12 and was a ward of the state throughout high school. He ended up at Harvard.</p>
<p>Just wanted to add (to this obviously old thread) that I find it amazing that she freed herself from the tyrannical ideology of that church. Really, to break yourself of such a mindset--quite literally to tear apart the foundation of your way of thinking--is harder than getting a perfect score on the SAT, than getting perfect grades, than getting into Harvard et al.</p>
<p>For those of you who don't know much about it, search youtube for some illuminating videos (and interviews) of the cult that is the Westboro Baptist Church.</p>
<p>^ I'm in the same boat as Kyle David. That's the kind of story that sends chills down your spine, the stuff that makes books fly off the shelves. She absolutely deserved to get into those schools. There was no "luck" here as far as I can tell.</p>