SFS EA, but with a crazy application. Advice? Chances? :)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Georgetown University
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<p>So Georgetown has always been my dream school. I'd die to attend the School of Foreign Service, but I'm not even close to a shoe-in.
Here are my stats:</p>

<p>White female from WA</p>

<p>GPA: 3.5 (Not proud, will explain)
APs:
AP Language, 5
APUSH, 5
AP World History (took class for one semester), 4
AP Chemistry: 3</p>

<p>This year I'm taking AP Environmental Science, AP Literature, AP Comparative Governments, AP US Government and Politics, AP AB Calculus, Spanish 3 accelerated through my local university, and journalism. </p>

<p>My test scores are:
2140 SAT (800 Reading, 670 Math, 670 Writing)</p>

<p>35 ACT (36 Reading, 36 English, 35 Science, 31 Math, and I don't have my writing score yet.)</p>

<p>SAT IIs: 760 Literature, 730 US History, 670 Math 1</p>

<p>So my test scores are close to Georgetown's norm, I think.</p>

<p>As far as extracurriculars go, I think I'm okay:
Weekly radio show discussing local, national, and international issues (3 years)
Editor-In-Chief of the school newspaper this year, Opinions editor last year and copy editor the year before (3 years total)
Marketing and Production Intern at local NPR affiliate (8 hours a week for 2 years, plus special events)
Varsity Knowledge Bowl team member, JV captain (2 years) Knowledge bowl is like team jeopardy; it's academic trivia.
Video productions club (2 years)
Six week stint as a Teen Interpreter (basically a docent) at the Seattle Aquarium last summer (I live on the other side of the state, but stayed in Seattle).</p>

<p>My GPA and my essays are the parts I'm worried about. The thing I don't know how to talk about is that I'm legally blind. Things like math and science (anything with numbers) are very difficult for me. It isn't because I'm bad at them (see test scores) but because I'm the only low vision kid in my district to be taking honors/AP classes, and teachers don't know how to accommodate with things like large print. But, it's also my fault; I definitely could have done better. I'm not sure how to talk about my vision without making it sound like an excuse, because it isn't.
I had my alumni interview yesterday, and I think it went pretty well. She was an SFS graduate, and she gave me some great advice. Seemed impressed with my test scores and extracurriculars.
I know I'll have stellar letters of recommendation from my counselor, who knows me well and has been a huge help,and the General Manager/President of the radio station. I'm asking my history and English teachers for letters also, which I think will be complimentary. </p>

<p>My hooks are radio, which is a huge part of my life, and maybe the struggles of low vision. </p>

<p>This was long and rambling, so if you read this far, I thank you.</p>

<p>My real questions are:
Do I have a chance?
and how do I talk about my vision in my essays? Do I?
Any other advice?</p>

<p>Thank you so much for your time!</p>

2

<p>Bump!</p>

3

<p>You have two issues: Discussing your high school record on your application and setting yourself up for success in college. </p>

<p>I am not the expert at this… But here’s what I know. </p>

<p>Since you are legally blind, you are going to need some ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accommodations so that your college coursework goes more smoothly than your high school math did. Your accommodations might be relatively “minor” to execute, but as you found already, without them, you have less chance of academic success.</p>

<p>Either your parent, your doctor or your high school counselor should contact the university on your behalf. The Admissions office may need to seek advice from their ADA compliance office, so this really needs to be done soon. Talk it over with your parent or counselor.</p>

<p>Hopefully others with more expertise in ADA will weigh in. If they don’t, I would suggest you do a new Thread titled “Please help with ADA related issues” and hopefully others will reply. Good luck!</p>

4

<p>That’s interesting. Everyone I’ve talked to so far, including my counselor and Department of Services for the Blind liaison, has said I need to worry about accommodations once I’ve been accepted. Would the admissions office really contact the school’s Disability Services?</p>

5

<p>The Department of Services for the Blind is a better authority than I am. But I do think some schools will be more proactive than others in helping you. How do they suggest you find that out besides asking?</p>

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<p>When I visit the school, I’m supposed to look into disability services. This wasn’t an option when I was at Georgetown, but if I were somehow accepted, a quick phone call could tell me everything I need to know. Textbook companies have no qualms about selling PDFs to colleges (unlike high schools), so textbooks wouldn’t be an issue. Everything else I could enlarge myself, or accomplish by sitting in the front row. Most schools have excellent DS compared to high school too. I wasn’t planning on worrying about accommodations until after I’d been accepted places. </p>

<p>Should I?</p>