<p>Hi :)</p>
<p>My father is a 1986 graduate of Columbia University’s Columbia College. I will be graduating from a nationally renowned public high school in a well-off area of Houston this spring. Throughout my life I have been known as a terrific writer. I have a 1700 SAT. I am in the third quarter of my class even though I have a 3.1/4.0 GPA. I have had a relatively difficult time in school thus far due to a series of unfortunate circumstances; my transcript and SAT score does not accurately reflect my academic capabilities. I was diagnosed with type one diabetes and Celiac’s disease (wheat/gluten intolerance) in middle school and struggled to manage them in harmony until my sophomore year in high school. Because some of the private schools I attended could not adequately provide the help I needed to catch up on work missed due to illness, my grades suffered. I am making all As and 2 Bs currently. I am involved in a number of extracurricular activities and I have over 200 hours of community service. I am enrolled in a dual credit English class and AP US Gov. My essays are all very strong. I would very much love to become a student at Columbia, albeit I gain admission.</p>
<ol>
<li>Is there any chance I can find a way in?</li>
<li>Can my essay help get me in to Columbia?</li>
<li>Other schools you can reccomend with the above information?</li>
</ol>