Georgetown, NYU, BU, Fordham Chances

Chance Me / Match Me
1

Hi! I’m a rising high school junior and my admissions-induced paranoia has gotten worse as of late.

Due to numerous hospitalizations from mental illness and long standing neurological disorders, my freshman year grades were painfully average. I could only maintain a 3.5 GPA unweighted, and accumulated over 40 medically excused absences. That being said, I still managed to remain in the top quarter and in the honors program. (I thankfully didn’t lose my full scholarship either)

In sophomore year, I managed to improve my grades (albeit only slightly.) I now have a 3.75 GPA, and I am quite unsure of my rank (although I’m sure it increased, it will more likely than not, remain in the top quarter.)

My projected standardized test scores are relatively high, on SAT practice tests I’ve managed to achieve 700 CR and 700 Math without prep, and I plan on getting a private tutor this year (especially with the upcoming changes.)

I am taking 9 APs over the course of high school, and the rest honors regents.

-World History (Sophomore year)
-English Lang and Comp (Junior year)
-Spanish Lang and Comp (Junior year)
-US History (Junior year)
-Studio Art (Senior year)
-US Gov (Senior year)
-Physics (Senior year)
-Statistics (Senior year)
-English Lit and Comp (Senior year)

My ECs

-Speech and Debate (NSDA degree of honor, NYFL States)

-PAW (People for Animal Welfare)

-Varsity bowling

-Art major program

-Regular volunteer work with the local children’s soccer league

-Campaign volunteering for the democratic party

-Planned volunteer work in China during summer 2016

-Involvement in school spirit week festivities

-LOTE Honor Society

-NHS

-Receptionist work at my church’s rectory

-Literary Magazine/Poetry Club

-Peer tutoring

-Japanese language classes outside of school

-Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation (school requirement) with honors (I have over a 90 average on my regents exams)

SAT IIs

English
Spanish
World History

I’m a pretty strong writer, so I think that my essays won’t be much of a hindrance to my application. Demographically, I don’t have much of a hook, as my parents managed to finish college despite aforementioned family history of mental illness (and alcoholism/substance abuse), and I do happen to be a white female with a steady income. However, I am a lesbian and mentally ill, so I am considering somehow alluding to that somewhere in my application (not too sure…)

I want to go into international relations and/or linguistics, so when applying to Georgetown (my definite first choice), I’ll be applying to the Walsh School of Foreign Service.

Is there any hope for someone like me? What can I do to improve my odds?

Thank you so much in advance!

2

I think you could cut out 2 or 3 ECs and have more free time for studying. Not a huge deal but it doesn’t look like you are taking Calculus AB or BC. Your GPA above is that weighted or unweighted? I take it from your scholarship comment that you are going to a private high school - that might help as your school will likely not release class rank and the quality of your guidance counseling is likely to be higher. I would be very careful about bringing up a history, particularly a family history, of mental illness. It might be important to your having overcome obstacles but it’s difficult to talk about mental illness in an application without potentially scaring some colleges away. Georgetown is much tougher to get into then the other schools you’ve mentioned. You can focus on studying hard junior year and continue prepping for your SAT exams. Georgetown is also going to want 3 SAT Subject tests so be thinking about that as well. Your taking APUSH junior year so logical Subject tests might be Math 1, US History and Literature. By all means take AP Studio Art but realize that you could instead take something more substantive

3

@moswick We really can’t predict your chances until you have SAT/ACT scores. Sorry.

4

@Wje9164be My listed GPA is unweighted, and my school doesn’t allow you to take any AP Calc courses if you haven’t taken Pre-Calc. Thank you so much for your input though. I am definitely torn about including any history of mental illness because it could very well end up being detrimental to my chances, but I also want to give some sort of indication as to why my scores were low.

@EIC2400 I know, but I figured that I could get some help with what SAT/ACT scores I’d need for any sort of chance with my other credentials.

5

1400 is nothing you need an excuse for. It’s s solid score. The upward trend in your grades is very helpful. Do not share with a college any derogatory information you don’t havev to

6

@Wje9164be Thanks so much for the advice. GPA and rank is one thing I’m definitely worried about, and I’m almost sure that although my school is private, it reports the latter.