BootsnAll Travel Community

Hi everyone. I know this isn't travel related, but it is student related, so hopefully I won't get bashed for it.

I'm a junior in high school, and seeing as how there are so many helpful, stable adults here, I was hoping for some advice.

I've been looking at colleges for years, and have been wanting to go to NYU for a long time now. It is a "highly selective" school (to quote them) and though I am pretty smart and able to hold my own in classwork, do very well on tests, but due to stomach illness am absent very often. This isn't trying to sound like a pity plea or anything, but I've had severe pain for years and have been going to gynecologists and gastroenterologists, going to the hospital for various tests (bloodwork, CT scans, X rays, etc) trying to find out what's wrong. Basically, my grades suffer because of this, and was wondering what you all thought on my chances of getting into any good school. I do try really hard, but it obviously looks bad to have such bad grades. Is there anything I can do to help my chances of not having my application laughed at? :-/ Thank you for taking the time to read, I do appreciate any advice.

Do an interview and explain the situation.

Hi Gweneviere,

Wow it sounds like you have gone through alot and its totally understandable that you can't necessarily achieve your best when you're under so much stress and physical pain. I don't know about in the USA, but in Canada, most universities have a personal information form you can fill out (usually optional) when you apply. Usually, interviews aren't given unless you are applying to a particular program such as medicine. These forms are an opportunity for you to demonstrate the things you have achieved in the face of adversity. For example, despite your illness you were able to be a part of the school orchestra, etc...also they give a bit of background into your special circumstances so the schools put your situation and grades into perspective. Usually schools are very impressed with students who are able to stay in school or be involved in the community despite difficult circumstances.

Best of luck!

kat

Thanks for the advice and encouragement. It is greatly appreciated. Hehe my name is Kat too! Again, thank you, your response really made me a lot less stressed. After I found out that they don't give individual interviews, I got frazzled all over again, but now I can breathe normally.