Major Family Issues addressed in application

ateaford05
Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:53:23 +0000

OK so I go to one of the top public high schools in the country in a small suburb. However, my application will have attached an statement from my guidance counselor about my mother and my brother. She’s an alcoholic currently in jail for breaking a restraining order and stalking me; he’s a heroin addict in jail for armed robbery. My counselor explains that these circumstances caused a bit of a drop in my grades, esp. sophomore year when my brother was living with my dad and me, and lays out all the legal facts. I wrote my essay about how visiting him in prison and how his upbringing with my mom has made me grateful of the opportunities I have, keeping it in a very positive light.

STATS: My school has a funky 9.0 GPA scale, and right now (pending 1st term grades) I’m on the cusp of the 10% marker (89th percentile ish)
SAT: 680M, 730CR, 780W. SAT2’s: US Hist: 750, French: 730
Extracurriculars are strong, mostly focused in writing. Among others, I’m an editor on a newspaper that has consistently won awards at Columbia Scholastic Press Association (where I’m applying early!). I have several other awards in writing, as well as in foreign language. Also very involved in community service (work on suicide hotline) and have taken college courses over past 2 years. 1 of my reccs coming from a college prof. I’ve had for several classes over the past 2 years, sending in transcript with A’s in all those classes.

Took AP Frenc 4 & U.S. Hist last year (both 4’s). Now in AP Calc AB, AP French 5, AP Psych, AP Euro Hist, and Honors Philosophy

OK normally I know my stats would be INSANELY sub-par for Columbia. Will this information about my family possibly help me by showing I’ve overcome adversity, or hurt me (maybe portray me as “white trash”)
I’m hoping my interview this Thurs will eliminate the latter, but I’m still worried. How is this info from my g counselor going to affect me in admissions? I’m clueless!