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Hello, I am currently ending my sophomore year in HS. Yea, I've been told that it's a little early. I have been through perhaps the worst experiences of any high shooting scholar. It all started in Elementary school through the 6th grade. I was at the very top of my class, never got less than 100%s on anything, however, things took a turn for the worst. Starting in the seventh grade, I developed severe depression and as a consequence, my grades suffered. It got to the point where I wasn't doing huge projects that were 1/3 of my entire grade. This coming from a person who got mad when they got one question wrong on tests in previous years. Because of my illness, I wasn't recommended for the highest classes for HS, only honors classes (a step down from GT). Sadly, my notorious trend of bad grades continued through Freshman year where I ended up with a cumulative GPA of 3.07. This, again, not even hinting at my ability level.

***Also, may I add as a side note that my HS is the top public school in Maryland and the top 1/4th of the graduating class can pretty much get in where they want to...Top 15% can go ivy league without trouble.***

However, this year, my sophomore year, I turned things around in a big way. My grades for the first 3 quarters have been 3.57, 4.0, and 3.86. I am looking at a most probable 3.86 for the year. I did farily well on my PSATs, however I hope to improve it dramatically once I get a class or two under my belt (1400-1500 Range). Next year, I am enrolled in all GT classes again, even in English and Social Studies surpassing the GT mark to the prestigious Humanities program. (A mixture of Art, Music, English, and Social Studies) Out of our entire region, only our school offers the Humanities program because it is intended for the "Higher thinkers" who generally take aim at attending my school because of its reputation.

Here is how my schedule for next year looks:
1. Physics GT
2. HUM English 11 GT
3. HUM American History APGT
4. Spanish 4 Honors
5. Java AP
6. Precalculus AP
7. Art III AP

On top of this schedule, I am in the Maryland Technology Honors Society, I am on the "It's Academic" team, I plan to: Play Varsity Soccer, Indoor Track, Varsity Lacrosse, do as many clubs as possible, NHS, Spanish Honors Society, and work a job.

Ok now for the questions....
1. Are my issues rare for applicants to the better schools (Ivy League, Better Technology Schools)?
2. What are my chances at a school like Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, or Cornell (My top 3 choices).
3. How much does freshman year really matter?
4. Will admissions officers notice my significant improvement maybe to evoke that slight chance of accepting someone who has been through such turmoil?
5. My classes haven't been all that difficult, nor will my class rank be amazing, however will addmissions officers "throw my application out" just because I wasn't challenged enough, or I didn't graduate as high as the rest?

Thank you for the great deal of time that you put into reading this. I look foreward to your feedback.

~Andrew

By Trojan1444 (Trojan1444) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 07:08 pm: Edit

You want us to predict your chances without knowing your SAT I, SAT II, or extracurricular activities?!! Get out of here. Your grades are probably bad enough that u won't get in those places anyway.

By Cuponoodles (Cuponoodles) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 07:25 pm: Edit

Looks to me that as long as you get/keep your grades and courseload up, and you thoroughly explain your situation...AND if you have ECs/essays/recs. among the top of the applicant pool, you'll do fine.

By Hsimpson2k4 (Hsimpson2k4) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 08:17 pm: Edit

Yeah.....colleges always get the depressed seventh grader story, you *******. You think that is a good excuse? depression??? Admit you are a slacker like the rest of the world! SERIOUSLY, unless your parent died, you have no story. LMAO, that is so lame. What a sob story. I can't believe I just wasted a minute reading that crap and responding. Don't waste our time!!!

By Radical (Radical) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 11:48 pm: Edit

gosh why are people on this board so mean?

By Sar (Sar) on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 11:54 pm: Edit

because the college application process has not been nice to them. of course, that's not a good excuse for them to be mean, either, but that's the way things are for now.


i think u should get close to a teacher and have him/her write you a nice, long rec explaining your situation and vouching for your abilities.

By Goneinfivemin (Goneinfivemin) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 12:34 am: Edit

Yeah, I wouldn't put the depression in your essay because many top college applicants are intelligent, stressed out, perfectionistic people which also makes them at a high risk for depression. I imagine adcoms hear it quite often. I am in no way discrediting your condition as I have some experience with the same thing. I would have your teacher write a recommendation emphasizing your recovery and turnaround. That would show that it isn't just a minor thing you made up, but that your really worked to get through it. Good Luck. Both with college and with understanding my post.

By Quakerboy2 (Quakerboy2) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 12:49 am: Edit

I wouldn't worry about it. Do the best you can, and I'm sure that you can get into the schools that you want to. Freshman year is not weighted heavily at some schools; others it is simply not counted. The best thing you can do is try to relax about it and do the best you can. Don't think about what you do as a prep for college until you get to at least second semester junior year, or even senior year. This doesn't mean don't try. It means do what you want for yourself. The colleges accept you, not your resume. If you present a resume that's not really you, you probably won't like the college that much.

You can worry about it or not, and I guarantee you that your worrying will have no effect on your college decision. I find that it's more fun not to worry. ;) Do your best, and whatever happens, happens.

Btw, here at Gilman, I hear that Dulaney is a good school :P

By Nocalguy (Nocalguy) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 01:22 am: Edit

Don't worry about it. I've heard the depression story before, but you can still write a good essay on it.

Also don't worry about what some of the others on this board say. They are either bitter, jealous, or are just arrogant jack@$$es.

By Hsimpson2k4 (Hsimpson2k4) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 04:02 pm: Edit

Sometimes you just have to be harsh to get a point out. I am saying he should just accept the fact that he messed up freshman year as many do and not come up with a lame sob story to compensate for it.

By Rubenizm (Rubenizm) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 04:34 pm: Edit

Hey Andrew Do you go to Blair or RM?
I'm from QO and i'm also on the It's ac

By Andrew05 (Andrew05) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 08:56 pm: Edit

First of all, I would like to thank all of you for responding, whether it was good or bad criticism, I appreciate it. However, I didn't like the fact that some of you people who wrote negative comments called me a "slacker" and that I was just complaining to get compensation. Allow me to tell you, that is definitely not the case. For one, I am definitely NOT a slacker. I can't believe that you would say such a thing. I've been through some rough times, as depression is. The majority of people cannot begin to fathom what it is like to come home and not do anything when you have piles of homework to do. I was a very gifted student and could easily been in the top 10 of my class had it not been for the terrible illness. Slackers do not rebound like I did, and would definitely not be in the classes that I will be in next year, nor would they be on the Its Academic team that qualified for nationals. Finally, Ms. Simpson, it is people like you that gave me the illness that ruined my life. I just hope you haven't inflicted your cruelty on others and shortened their reach to success the way others did to me.
On this site, I always read about those kids who get straight A's, valedictorian, stellar EC's and a multitude of interesting stats; all looking at Harvard, Princeton etc. Nobody ever seems to have the problems that I do. If one year of bad grades keeps me from a good college, then I'm done with. Once again, may I repeat that my school has one of the best nationwide reputations and was within the last 10 years, #4 on the top 100 list of highschools. My neighbor (just graduated from my school) got a 3.3, 1320 and got into Georgia Tech, now if that doesn't hint at the program that I partake in, then I don't know what does. Those of you who wrote positive comments have inspired me, not only to keep my head up, but to prove these spawns of Saddam that I can be better than they ever will. Thank you for your input, you all have helped me in a plethora of ways :-).

~Andrew

As Thomas Alva Edison once stated, "Five percent of the people think; ten percent of the people think they think; and the other eighty-five percent would rather die than think."

Sometimes I am reassured that the words of Mr. Edison are true...this happens to be one of those times....

P.S. I have heard of Blair, however, I am in the Howard County area.

By Melancholy (Melancholy) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 09:39 pm: Edit

Depression is a horrible thing. It has caused me to, in my own opinion, •••• away four years of my life in high school.

However, even in the midst of my most severe low periods, I did my work, my work was my refuge from the outside world and i do not think depression is a reason or an excuse for bad grades.

By Andrew05 (Andrew05) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 07:16 pm: Edit

im happy to hear that you were able to maintain your grades despite the devastating effects of the illness that plagues too many in this world. You are obviously stronger than I.

By Alita (Alita) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 04:24 pm: Edit

i was just wondering which hs you go to in howco.
im guessing centennial, but not sure.... (i live in howco also)just curious

alison

By Andrea909 (Andrea909) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 09:57 pm: Edit

Depression should never be thought of as a "sob story"-it affects different people in different ways. I mean, clinical depression can practically paralyze people to the point where any effort is seen as meaningless. But the accomplishment of survival/recovery means more than the disease itself. It helps to see it as just another experience that changed your point of view and made you different in some ways.(I think it makes you more sensitive, thoughtful, nonjudgemental.) Seems like seventh grade is the year for depression, so much of that middle-school mentality of cliques and all.
I had a depressed period in middle school too but the hs I go to is not highly ranked but actually quite pathetic. I didn't even mention it on the apps since you should focus on the person you are now. Judging by your description I think you should do just fine. grades aren't everything especially freshman year.

By Andrea909 (Andrea909) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 10:38 pm: Edit

*add introspective to that list too.
I wasn't paying attention the first time I read. If it's only sophomore yr and you're already in that program at that terrific school, there's no need to worry.

By Andrew05 (Andrew05) on Sunday, June 08, 2003 - 11:22 pm: Edit

yes, I attend Centennial