<p>I don't post much but I wanted to update those of you who helped me so much last Spring. If you remember, my daughter has gastrointestinal problems and was unable to take the SAT without getting sick. She ended up throwing up during her Spring exam and the score was cancelled.</p>
<p>With your encouragement and a letter from my daughter's doctor, I asked the CB to split the test over two days and allow her to eat during testing. They refused but allowed her to have breaks during her testing. She just took the Oct SAT and was able to finish it. She <em>did</em> get sick during it despite quite a few breaks and she said she was in a lot of pain for the last 3 sections but at least she will have a score. </p>
<p>We are also considering some SAT-optional schools. </p>
<p>Thanks again for all your help. I hope she was able to do well. She actually said the test seemed easy-- but it was hard to focus in the end because she didn't feel well.</p>
<p>I remember your post. I am glad that it has at least worked out to an extent. I don't remember whether your daughter will need to submit a medical explanation note in general, but if not I would suggest she submit something explaining the way her health affected her SAT scores (and anything else). Sometimes the college adviser writes this letter, sometimes the student writes it, and sometimes a doctor writes a note. You can decide what makes the most sense for your daughter's individual situation. If you want to provide more details, people on here may be able to advise you on how to handle the situation in terms of applying to college (i.e. who to tell, how to tell, stuff like that). </p>
<p>There are some great SAT optional schools. Maybe think about posting a new thread looking for school suggestions and suggestions on how to handle her health issues, if you want.</p>
<p>Your daughter has a lot of options. I'm sure everything will turn our great for her in the end.</p>
<p>Thanks for keeping us updated, and I'm glad she was able to get a score out of the SAT.</p>
<p>Thank you. The guidance counselor has offered to include a few lines-- especially since dd has been hospitalized several times in high school. My daughter is worried that schools won't want her if they know she is sick. She's actually a decent candidate: minority (AA), 4.1w gpa, very challenging curriculum (6 APs, 6 yrs sci, for language through AP lit), very good extracurriculars (raised thousands in charity, competitve research fellowship)-- but we're worried schools will not want her if they know she's sick. Then again, it has affected her gpa and will probably affect her SAT I. (Her SAT IIs were fine-- average 700. She has no problem with the shorter test.)</p>
<p>Emphasize any improvement she's had in dealing with her health problems. She obviously needs to find a school that will cater to her health limitations to an extent, but since you don't want it to limit her, I think it would help you to focus on any improvements she has had. Unfortunately, I don't remember her specific situation and whether this is chronic or something that may improve over time, but if you've had luck managing the situation, try to sound positive. Again, she has a lot of great choices. With careful and complete research, you can create a list with safety, match, and reach schools that she loves.</p>
<p>Thank you for the update - I remember your situation well. Great to hear that she managed to complete the test. Some excellent schools have become SAT-optional, so she'll have a number to consider if she decides to go that route. Good luck with the rest of the process!</p>
<p>Congrats on her finishing the SAT. She sounds like a wonderful girl. I also just wanted to give you some encouragement. There are many wonderful schools out there for your D. My daughter has an unusual muscular disorder, which causes her a lot of pain -- even though outwardly one would never know she was sick. We were in a difficult situation in the spring where she was supposed to head off for a scholarship weekend, but couldn't travel by herself. Even though parents usually don't travel with kids for these weekends, we contacted the folks in charge of the program and they were wonderful. She ended up getting a top scholarship despite the fact that they knew of her health problems.</p>
<p>When you are looking at schools, you need to really consider what is available to accommodate your D. D applied to a couple of schools where singles were available to people with certified disabilities, but on a lottery basis. That seemed untenable to us. She is now in a single on a hall of singles with people who requested them for many reasons -- so she's not just the sick girl with a single room. She is guaranteed a single throughout her 4 yrs. D applied for disbility services early and at the beginning of the semester sat down with each professor to go over things. She is like your D in that her illness can be unpredictable but she willmeet with prefessors each semester in anticipation of possible problems rather than waiting until she physically can't make it to class.</p>
<p>The school has continued to be wonderful. She had a major health crisis as school began and we weren't sure she would even be able to stay. Now she's 1/2 way through the semester and while it isn't easy, she is learning to manage her illness on her own. She calls almost daily to chat, which helps her through the day. You just have to accept that all the preconceptions of college go out the window for these kids. She's doing great socially, but can't drink or party (a good thing in many ways) because of meds. Her limitations can tend to be a bit isolating socially but her hall mates seems to understand her limitations.</p>
<p>Congrats to your D on being able to finish the SAT. It is far more grueling and time-consuming than exams she will face in college, and colleges are far more flexible than the CB in accommodating students with various challenges. Your D has a very strong profile, so I would not worry about looking only at SAT-optional colleges; she should apply wherever she wants to, and a note from the GC--if needed--to explain her SAT score would be sufficient, especially given her high SATII scores.</p>
<p>I think colleges would be impressed with what she has achieved under such difficult circumstances--I know I am! Haverford College, because of its honor code, does take-home exams that students can complete anywhere and at their own pace (within a time frame, I would guess). Maybe something to consider. I agree she sounds like a strong candidate.</p>
<p>Wellesley might be another college worth checking out. They have some sort of self-scheduled exam system that might adapt well to your daughter's needs.</p>