<p>So I'm applying to Stanford as a freshman this year, but my situation is super unusual.</p>
<p>Last year I got into Cornell ED, and went there in the fall. However, I had to come home after about two months because my depression got really, really bad. I live in the Bay Area; about five miles from Stanford. Since my doctors/support system are at home, I've decided to apply to colleges that are closer to home (namely the UCs and Stanford). I emailed the Stanford Dean of Admissions explaining my situation, and he said it would be fine for me to apply this year as an incoming freshman.</p>
<p>During my year off, I am trying to improve my mental health. I'm also volunteering at the Stanford Hospital for 4 hours a week. </p>
<p>My stats are really sub-par for Stanford, and I honestly don't think I'll get in. But I am going to explain to Stanford that I've struggled with mental illness all my life, and decided to leave Cornell and get help instead of killing myself. I'll also talk about how difficult the decision was to leave the life I had made for myself at Cornell, which was really good up until my depression caught up with me. After much deliberation, I decided not to commit suicide because I know I can make an impact on the world and I'm just not ready to leave it yet. Also, my college counselor/family friend used to be on the admissions committee at Stanford, and she agreed to write my optional rec. </p>
<p>Anyway, here are my stats (they suck, I know):</p>
<p>Basic:
- Female
- large, public high school that sends about 10 kids to Stanford each year
- white
- dad and grandfather both went to Stanford for grad school (not that that really helps)
- 2100 SAT (sucks, I know...I'm taking the ACT though)
- 760 Bio E SAT II, 640 Literature SAT II (again, sucks...I'm retaking it though)
- 4.3 weighted GPA, 3.94 unweighted
- top 10% of the class (that's the highest my school ranks)
- really strong recs and essays (I think)
- 3 AP Art History, 3 AP Calculus BC, 4 AP Eng Lang, 4 AP Eng Lit, 4 AP Bio, 5 AP Calc AB, 5 AP Calc AB subscore on BC test (****ty scores, I know. I suck at standardized tests)
- was getting straight As at Cornell before I left</p>
<p>Awards:
- National Honor Society
- won several photography contests
- Science Commendation (schoolwide)
- Outreach Award for community service (schoolwide)
- Student of the Month (again, schoolwide)
- President's Certificate of Excellence (national)
- named "Most Improved Runner" on my track team (schoolwide)</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:
- I'm a really avid photographer, which is what I wrote one of my essays about. I spend about an hour a day on photography.
- I did a lot of community service in high school: I was an active member of my school's community service club, and twice I led this HUGE service project that helped the homeless in San Francisco. I devoted about 2 hours a week to this project for about five months.
- I was the President and co-founder of my school's ONE Club, which raised money to fight global poverty.
- Varsity track and badminton
- Head of Publicity for my school's Photography Club
- member of my school's improv comedy club
- National Honor Society project was tutoring "at risk" kids
- Level VII gymnast, but I had to quit due to injury at the end of my freshman year
- traveled to Europe on a school trip to learn about art history
- took a class at Cornell after my junior year, got an A-
- this is kind of weird, but I was the star of a Bollywood music video re-enactment this past summer. I put like 8 hours a week into that for about 6 weeks.</p>
<p>What I'm really passionate about is photography. I've won several online contests, and received "Honorable Mention" in a contest that was put on by Stanford. I'm also really passionate about fighting the stigma of mental illnesses. One of my proudest moments was when an author contacted me to take a picture and write a little blurb for a book about the painful stereotypes that people with mental illnesses face. Here is the picture: On</a> Black: More II by sylvialovesyou [Large]</p>
<p>I may not be a star applicant, but I have overcome a lot of obstacles because of my depression. And I have a really strong passion for photography. </p>
<p>Do you think I have a chance?</p>