Chance me? I know there are a million of these threads, but my situation is special..

Chance Me / Match Me
1

<p>I missed all of freshman and sophmore year due to hospitalization for an eating disorder and also a bunch of medical problems. Because of this, my class rank isn’t great (I’m just in the top 10%). I had to take a somehwat reduced courseload for frosh/soph year which was as follows (with grades):
FROSH:
Honors English-- 95
Honors World History-- 95
Honors Earth Science-- 97
Honors Geometry-- 97
Introduction to Business-- 95
Spanish-- 90</p>

<p>SOPH:
Honors History-- 97
English-- 97
Honors Algebra 2-- 96
Biology-- 96
Creative Writing (half year)-- 95
Spanish at community college-- A</p>

<p>All of the course that were not honors were unavailable in honors through the independent study program.</p>

<p>I returned to school as a junior, and currently have all As in 4 honors, 1 AP (History) and 1 A-Level (Spanish, I have a 100) class. In addition to my normal classes, I also studied AP Human Geography independently.</p>

<p>SAT: 2330 (770 M, 770 CR, 790 W)
SATIIs: I expect an 800 (or close to it) on History, a mid-700 on english, and hopefully a mid-700 on chem and math II (I haven’t actually taken them yet). </p>

<p>Extracurriculers: Academic Decathlon A Team (we made it to states), Junior States of America, Tutoring at Middle School, Religious Education Classes Aide</p>

<p>Other Extracurriculers that probably don’t matter: Wrote a novel and won National Novel Writing Month, Play ukulele and piano</p>

<p>I am now fully recovered from my illness and could probably write a good essay on overcoming an obstacle (without focusing on my illness, because I know that’s not good. I might focus more on the social aspect of not being in school for 2 years and overcoming that).</p>

<p>I want to pursue a career in neurology.</p>

<p>SO— What are my chances for the following schools: Duke, William and Mary, UNC, Dartmouth, URochester, Carnegie Melon, and Cornell.</p>

2

<p>Neurology? Do you mean you wish to become a Physician? Therefore you should choose a college program which will prepare you for eventual Med school application. All your listed schools will do fine for that. </p>

<p>That being said, you have an impressive array of academic achievements. You should be viable at those listed. Good luck – but stop saying you want a career in Neurology: physicians specialize in neurology.</p>

3

<p>You could write an essay about your eating disorder, and it could be amazing and original if you do it right - by not focusing on the problem and trying to get sympathy from the adcoms, but by showing how this experience has truly impacted you and your ambitions and has made you the person you are today. That could be a wonderful essay if done correctly. Your SAT scores are great, and your grades and scores really show how you were able to overcome an obstacle and achieve great things, which is really admirable. If you end up writing your personal statement on your eating disorder, it would be great if you start an eating disorder program/initiative in your community (i.e. speaking at high schools, starting a clinic/program for young girls to teach about healthy body image at middle schools or community centers etc.) - that would really make your application have a good hook. If you think the fact that you missed a lot of school could hurt you - show how you’ve used that problem to make a difference and grow from it. But that’s just a suggestion. Best of luck to you in the college admissions process! I’m sure you’ll do great.</p>

4

<p>I think it would do you well to increase your courseload and grades, to emphasize the point that you’ve bounced back especially well from your disorder. I say, make sure you take Calculus (ABC if you can) and then go for HYPS as well. You may as well try, right?</p>

5

<p>My schedule next year is:
AP Calc BC
AP English
AP Psych
AP Stat
AP Chem
Spanish 4 Honors
Art (need to take it…)
Gym
Lunch</p>

<p>So I will have a heavier load next year.</p>

<p>I also forgot to mention that I will have my Girl Scout Gold Award by the time I apply to schools. I’m not positive what it will be, but it will be a large community service project.</p>

6

<p>If anyone else has opinions please chance me!</p>

7

<p>Given your stats, I’d say you were a reasonable candidate for any of the schools you mentioned.</p>

<p>(S got into Rochester with big merit money with lower stats than you (turned it down, though))</p>

8

<p>Well, you are pretty lucky in the fact that you could easily write a great essay about something you overcame. You managed to pull off high A’s in honors classes frosh/soph year, all the while being hospitalized, if I read that correctly. That’s a hell of an accomplishment. If you could write your essay about your dedication toward succeeding, a 2330 SAT, 4.+, you’ll get in at all of those schools hopefully.</p>

9

<p>I agree that you have a fantastic chance at all of these schools. FWIW, I’m like 99% positive you’ll get in to William and Mary, Rochester, and CMU, and I think you’ll have a great chance at the others. COngrats on overcdoming so much!</p>

10

<p>@T26E4, research in Neurology is also a possibility. I don’t think colleges will penalize you for your fresh/soph year. Especially since you’re still in the top 10%. It’s not like you failed classes. In fact, you still had all A’s so I see no problem.</p>

11

<p>I <333 NaNoWriMo! And I think that you are in William and Mary, UNC, and Rochester, have a good shot at Carnegie Mellon and Cornell, and if you write good essays/get good recs you have a decent chance at Dartmouth and Duke.</p>

12

<p>Update: I got my sat ii scores back. 800 on the Lit (yay) and 750 on US history (a little dissappointing). I’m still hoping for mid 700 on chem and math.</p>