<p>Does the story explain the GPA, and the idea that you can thrive, competing academically with the students at the schools you we applying to? Do you have some extroidinary EC /leadership stuff? Will/did you have time to do those APs AND some financial+academic matches and safeties? </p>
<p>And finally, are you sure you want to be there? My daughter pulled off a major reach in '08, and while she is happy now, she has had serious second thoughts about her choice.</p>