<p>Hello, all! Happy New Year's! </p>
<p>So now that I've submitted all my applications, I have a question to ask. How much do special circumstances matter to college admissions staff? I have a 32 on the ACT and a 2190 on the SAT, but a 3.73 GPA in high school. </p>
<p>I had an awful home life in high school. I moved out of my house to live with my grandmother sophomore year after living with a physically and psychologically abusive father for my entire life. I cared for her until very late in the night or very early in the morning, ultimately becoming her nurse. I had to ride my bike to school, waking up at 4:30am every day, coming home physically exhausted. Then she passed away last December, and I moved back home a few months later while my parents got a divorce. So, as one would imagine, my GPA suffered. But you can tell by my standardized tests that I'm a smart guy.</p>
<p>So do special circumstances matter at all to college admissions? If so, how much?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>1 word : yup! (as long as you write about it)</p>
<p>I wrote about it as part of the “Additional Information” section of the Common App essays. I know they’ll read it, but is it plausible for it to compensate for a low GPA (considering that I’m applying to Brown, Columbia, Penn, Tufts, UVA, and Emory)? Does anyone have any personal experience with this?</p>
<p>I’ve spoken w Admissions folks - they always profess they do take it under special circumstances.
How good is your HS guidance counsleor or did your teacher recommendations know about your personal circumstance & did they write about them? Since the teachers aren’t suppose to reveal to you what they wrote - but I’m sure you know if they knew your circumstances. Anyway if this was overlooked by these people you need another party to express (Employer, another favorite teacher or school prinicpal) this to the colleges.</p>
<p>Truly in your favor is that your ACT is great & you are a male. You may want to focus on schools where the demographics need more males.</p>
<p>You should speak to your GC to make sure they expressed your special circumstances. Sorry about your jerky father too. Good luck & get even by kicking butt out there in the real world! :)</p>
<p>Thank you very much! That makes me feel a whole lot better. My teachers and counselors know about my personal stuff, but I’m the kind of person that doesn’t throw pity parties about it. Thank you and I shall kick said butt!</p>
<p>^Did you at least make your explanation (in the addition info.) somewhat positive?</p>
<p>I certainly didn’t want to make myself sound like a victim. Well, at least more than I had to. I laid out the facts of the various disruptions I’ve had in high school. I explained what happened; I didn’t moralize it. Should I have? I think I did fine. I’m just worried that my personal crap stopped me from being in the NHS, etc., which will hurt my chances.</p>