Chances for a unique applicant (Stanford, Georgetown, UChicago)

Chance Me / Match Me
1

<p>Background: Have taken care of a mentally challenged uncle and grandmother (until death) all of High School and have been using illegal drugs(I’ll specify only if necessary)/coupled with depression/apathy (those two reasons would explain why I have a low 9th year, but I dare not mention those on my application.)</p>

<p>Half Caucasian / Half Asian
Midwestern
Noncompetitive Public High School</p>

<p>GPA-3.8W 3.7UW 9-12, huge upward trend (3.2->3.8->4.1(/4.333)->4.25 (projecting probably)
GPA For Princeton/Stanford: 3.9UW, 4.05W (blatantly GOD AWFUL weighing system coupled with block scheduling at my school, and I think most colleges will recognize this immediately)</p>

<p>Class Rank: 12% (9-12)
Class Rank: 1%-2% (10-12) [Unofficial, but if Princeton or Stanford recalcs GPA I figure they’d notice a substantial change on my class rank]</p>

<p>ACT:35
SAT:2340
SAT II: 800Math 800US taking Literature or Physics
Course Load: Most rigorous in my grade by far. 11 APs total (max that could be taken, 5 Jr. 6 Sr.)</p>

<p>Jr: Pre AP Physics B, AP Calc AB I(Split up due to block schedules), APUSH, AP Stat, AP Bio
Sr: AP Physics B, AP Calc AB II, AP Calc BC, AP Chemistry, AP English Lit, AP Gov’t(@ Georgetown)</p>

<p>ECs:
JSA (founded at end of 11th, so I guess 12th only) President
Speech & Debate 10-12
Medical Academy 10-12
Key Club 11-12
NHS 10-12 Secretary
AIME, AMC12
Nationals Qualifier LD Debate
Internship at attorney general’s office (12th year)
Teaching Assistant for my HS Debate II Class
CAL Counter-Strike Cal-M [I’m serious about the EC, but I’m joking about putting it down… :)]</p>

<p>Summers:
Stanford Debate Camp
JSA Georgetown Advanced Session AP Government
Volunteer Campaigning for Democratic party in my city 200 Hours (12th Summer and through 12th year)</p>

<p>Intended Major: Philosophy</p>

<p>Colleges: (All RD)
Princeton
Stanford #1
Columbia
UPenn
Georgetown
Northwestern
UChicago
Pomona</p>

<p>Claremont McKenna
Tulane (Honors)</p>

<p>Penn State (Honors)
Boston University</p>

2

<p>ok, I would definitely not write about illegal drugs on your app. way too risky.</p>

3

<p>Explain to me again how you’re unique?</p>

<p>Obviously your scores are great, and it is a shame that your relative suffered from mental problems and partial responsibility to care for him fell to you.</p>

<p>But that didn’t stop you from attending prestigious summer programs or force you to work a job to cover an income disparity.</p>

<p>So I don’t see the hook you claim to have.</p>

4

<p>I never said it was a hook. (Although I wish it was. :))
I just think I’d bring a lot of diversity to any campus; if you think there are many people who have both taken care of people who are mentally challenged and have had past experiences with heavy drugs, then I’ve obviously mistaken the definition of unique. (Not to defend myself; I’d just be surprised.) I do appreciate your comments, Ses.</p>

5

<p>Past experiences with heavy drugs.</p>

<p>You said you’re not going to mention it in your application, so the admissions officers will never know you used drugs. They won’t know this “unique” you.</p>

6

<p>Also: Drug use isn’t the kind of diversity colleges look for.</p>

<p>And, um, have you ever been anywhere near a New England/Mid-Atlantic prep school? Drug city, baby.</p>

7

<p>I figured it’d get more posts, but apparently it’s just sparking a debate about whether or not I’m really unique? I’m obviously not going to reference drugs. To reiterate: I really don’t care whether or not this is some hook; the fact is that it’s my past, and although ashamed, I can’t avoid it. I do care about what my chances are at these schools, and thank you for replying. edit: Ses, I do have a question, but I’ll PM you to avoid this thread getting off topic.</p>

8

<p>Hi, x9521!</p>

<p>Not that I know anything about your chances of your admittance since I am just another newby and also prosperous college applicant (plus, and international one!), but I heard about three essay topics to avoid, unless you can present it really well. You probably know, three Ds: death, divorce and drugs.
Now, from what I’ve read, I am not sure if you used drugs in past and not anymore, or you still are using drugs?
If it’s the former, then with good explanation of your situation in your essay and if you don’t try to make them accept you out of pity (which I am sure you won’t), and show them what your situation has taught you, I think you could be quite unique applicant. Also, you’ll have quite an essay topic! :wink:
If it’s the latter… then… uhm… what they already said: try not to mention it.
But that’s all an opinion of a rookie in this ambiguous college-app world!</p>

<p>Anyways, good luck! :)</p>

9

<p>have been using illegal drugs</p>

<p>LOL @ even CONSIDERING putting this anywhere near an application</p>

10

<p>x9521, I do think you are unique. Obviously avoid talking about drugs, but I think that talking about how you have become a stronger person in spite of the adversities you have faced, along with your determination to do something with your life would definitely set you apart from other people. ;)</p>

11

<p>Quite a lot of other applicants will do that as well.</p>

12

<p>Can I just have chances?
I’m not going to write any of the drug stuff on my applications… people just always ask me why I had a low 9th year (On CC)</p>

13

<p>wow im caucasian-asian too! lol</p>

14

<p>I would say that every school on your list, through CMC, should be counted as “reach-ish,” at the least. Not because you’re not a strong applicant, but because there’s no way of knowing how each school will choose to deal with your weak freshman year. Some will see the upward trend is a great asset, others will use it as a way to weed you out quickly. It’ll come down to how you frame the issue and who happens to be reading your application. Whether or not you bring up drug use, you should be able to account for the weak start. Family issues and depression should suffice just fine, but as always, be careful about how you frame them.</p>

<p>I think you’re definitely a strong enough applicant that you’ll be able to apply to competitive schools and get into some of them. But I tend to view all “weak start” applicants (and I myself was one, so I base this off of my own experience…rejected from safeties, in to reaches, there was no rhyme or reason) as very unpredictable.</p>

<p>Good luck :)</p>