Should I even bother to apply to Brown?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brown University
1

<p>Was diagnosed with ADHD at the end of my junior year. I never had a doctor until then.
Stats:
ACT: 30
GPA: 3.1 (unweighted) with HIGH upward trend.
Freshman year GPA unweighted 2.42
Sophomore year GPA unweighted 3.1
Junior year GPA weighted 3.7
Senior year GPA weighted 3.9</p>

<p>AP courses taken:
Junior year:
APUSH - B/B
APLANG - B/B
(AP Spanish exam, not class - got a 4)</p>

<p>Senior year:
AP Bio - C/B
AP Stats - C/B
AP Human Geo - A/A
(self studying AP Psychology)
Plus other classes… I took a full schedule.</p>

<p>I’m an URM
Very low economic status.
Single mother.
First generation college student (my mom didn’t graduate high school).
First generation American.
English second language.</p>

<p>Worked on the weekends every weekend helping my mom at her job since about 6th grade and all through high school.
Was diagnosed with ADHD at the end of my junior year. I never saw a doctor until then.
I have a few EC’s - all since diagnosis
One school leadership position.
School newspaper photographer.
Weightlifting - hobby
Photography - hobby
Debate Club - school.
Worked on the weekends every weekend helping my mom at her job since about 6th grade and all through high school… If it counts as an EC.</p>

<p>I otherwise have a great essay I think it’s very personal and quite inspirational.</p>

2

<p>No one can really say for special situations. Certainly you would not have a chance without any special situation.
You should have put your UW gpa for all 4 years. I don’t see how your Bs and Cs for jr and sr year redeem you. I think the Cs are a major problem. The test score isn’t high enough.</p>

<p>Are you going to apply through Questbridge? You likely should, especially if you have a zero EFC. There are a lot of really good partner colleges to check out. But you can still apply wherever you like.</p>

3

<p>Yes, my recent ADHD diagnosis isn’t the only thing I that has gotten in the way of my studies. There are a couple of other issues impacting my studies, one of them being moving four times in less than three years. I actually missed a project in Bio because I was so busy moving and my grade dropped 13% from a 91% to a C. But making excuses won’t get me anywhere.
Thanks for the advice! My EFC is definitely zero, I will look into Questbridge. I appreciate the help!</p>

4

<p>It couldn’t hurt to apply. I wouldn’t try to play up your ADHD too much in your essay though. It looks bad to be making a lot of excuses.</p>