<p>I was wondering if I should even apply to Grinnell
here are my stats</p>
<p>3.5/4.0
only 2 APs (chem and Lang)
Couple of Pre-AP classes
30 ACT
Chess Club 2 years
French Club 2 years
Science Olympiad
Volunteer for many hours
I live in south GA
African American male
Low income family
First gen</p>
<p>I really tried to study more but its hard to study when the lights are out at home
Family situation better now but still pretty bad</p>
<p>I was wondering if you think i should even apply</p>
<p>You should look into Questbridge, which Grinnell partners with. I do think it’s worth applying to Grinnell in your case. I think the lack of rigor in your schedule might hurt you a bit, but if it’s due to a family situation, then you should explain that. </p>
<p>Certainly you should apply. They require very little beyond the common app and I think they waive the fee if you apply online.</p>
<p>The college will take your life circumstances into account when reviewing your application. How helpful is your guidance counselor? Do you have a teacher who would read your essay? Don’t hesitate to ask for help.</p>
<p>I’m going to give an opinion and hope others weigh in. I think, OP, if you can get your guidance counselor to write about some of your difficult circumstances, that might be best and you could use your essay for other ways to describe yourself.</p>
<p>That tends to be good enough. Depending on the sizeof your HS, it could mean a lot that your counselor has anything qualitative to say about you.</p>
<p>there is a section on the common application which asks for “additional information.” You can write about your family circumstances there. I would do so in a way that highlights it not in a whining way, but to show what limited your ability to take more advanced courses. </p>
<p>OR-- why don’t you give your guidance counselor a written paragraph and suggest that they insert it in their recommendation or adapt it. At our high school, parents are asked to fill out a questionnaire and give as much info to the GCs as they think will help, so this is a common practice. </p>
<p>The key is to present as full a picture of yourself as possible so that when admissions committees meet to review your application, they can get as full a picture of you as possible, and understand not only what you’ve done in high school, but who you might become in a different environment. </p>
<p>“The Admission staff is eager to help you in any way possible. Over the course of the application and enrollment process, you will become familiar with many friendly faces and voices. We’re thrilled to meet you-now meet us!”</p>
<p>I would take them at their word. Look, they know that many students have the resources to get help in this process and I’d bet they’d be glad to help answer questions from someone like you who has no guidance whatsoever (except for us on CC!!). </p>
<p>I’m glad you’re looking at Grinnell. It provides as individualized and supportive a place as there is out there!</p>
<p>Do it. It is a great school and you are a desirable demographic. You will likely get a plane ticket to visit if you get accepted.</p>
<p>If you are low income and/or an URM you should get a waiver on application fee here and other places. Talk to your GC. But I hear this school is very rich in financial resources and you will get a study abroad semester or year, plus many great stuff going on on campus, becaise of the resources. If you have aspirations to grad school, you ought to do well.</p>
<p>OP, are there any teachers who know you better than your GC does? You will need to have 2 letters of recommendation from teachers. The LORs could be another place for getting the message across that you have achieved in spite of difficult circumstances.</p>
<p>My teachers only know me as a student, I live in the city but I go to the county school, its full of upper middle class kids. I never told anyone about my financial situation because I had a fear of being teased. The one person who does know my situation would be the man in charge of the drug action center, he works with troubled inner city kids.</p>
<p>Also my class rank is pretty bad, we got transcripts today…</p>
<p>you should have the drug action center man send a reference letter. (I’m assuming he knows you and would attest to your character / who you are as a person?). My son sent in a letter to all his schools from someone in the community who knew him well and where he spent much of his time outside of school.</p>
<p>also, why don’t you apply for the Diversity Preview program? I imagine they would pay for your airfare. </p>
<p>Don’t get discouraged about your class rank. Just do your best job with your applications and try to do your best on academics the rest of this year. Where else are you applying?</p>
<p>I think it would be fine to ask the guy at the drug action center if he would send in a supplemental LOR. You will still need 2 teacher recs, so start thinking about who would be your best bets and try to start talking to some of them about your college hopes.</p>