Applicant 3: Amy Armstrong

Biographical Sketch: Amy Armstrong fits the profile of the typical Texas State University student: she completed a rigorous program of college preparatory courses at a respected suburban high school; she participated in gifted programs and numerous extracurricular activities; she enters college having already earned AP course credit. Only one variable doesn't fit: Amy's grades dropped drastically for a three-semester period after her mother endured a long bout with cancer and died after Amy's sophomore year. The resulting trauma hurt Amy's grades and, she argues, her test scores--since she missed much of the material the tests covered during that year. Her grades and scores are just slightly below the cut-off for regular admission. She believes that her record before and after her mother's death shows that she is capable of excellent academic work and that her performance during a time of family tragedy should not be held against her. Although she could attend a junior college or a less selective university, she believes that she belongs at Texas State and can succeed here.

Name: Amy Elizabeth Armstrong Social Security Number: 000-73-0285 Address/Phone:  12 Meadow Drive Plano, TX  (502) 555-5028 Ethnicity: Caucasian

High School GPA: 3.2 Class Rank: 216 in a class of 705 ACT Composite: 24 SAT Scores: 590(verbal), 540(quantitative) High School:  Northwest Hills High School Plano, TX 79003

I. Personal Essay: Please explain in 250-500 words why you wish to attend Texas State University and how you think you could contribute to the university community here.

I have always felt inspired by the old proverb that says, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." Having narrowly missed the regular admission standards for Texas State University, I at first felt crushed, but gradually became more and more determined to overcome this obstacle. Thus, I am applying to you, the Special Admissions committee. I have been an excellent student since elementary school, I have completed a difficult college preparatory program, and I feel I am well qualified to succeed in the academic environment that Texas State provides. I have taken almost all Honors courses throughout high school, including four years of French, AP English, and an advanced creative writing sequence, and my grades have been high with the exception of my sophomore year. During that year, my mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She died the following summer. My life fell apart and school suffered along with everything else.  I have worked hard to overcome my overwhelming grief, and during the last two years things have started to fall back into place. During my senior year, I made almost straight As. I realize that I could go to a local junior college or another less demanding school and easily meet their regular admissions standards. But I believe that I belong in the more challenging academic environment that a large state university can provide. Going to Texas State would also allow me to be close to my father, who like me, still needs lots of support.  These last three years have been hard, but they have taught me to focus on those things that are really important. I believe that my solid background, my proven ability, and my determination will enable me to become a successful student on your campus.

Ms. Glenda Peterson English Faculty/Gifted Program Northwest Hills High School 492 North Loop Plano, TX 74629 Dear Special Admissions Committee: It is with pleasure that I write to recommend Amy Armstrong for admission to the Texas State University first-year class. Amy was my student in the English Gifted and Talented program during all four years of high school, and she was one of the best. She is highly intelligent, creative, and academically well prepared for college work. As you know, the Plano schools enjoy an excellent academic reputation, and Amy is a product of our system. She has completed, among other things, an AP English sequence, four years of foreign language, and four of advanced mathematics--in addition to being active in a number of extracurricular activities. Unfortunately, because of the tragic illness and death of her mother two years ago, Amy experienced several difficult semesters. The emotional drain of caring for her mother, followed by the shock of her death, caused her grades to suffer for several semesters. However, in time she regained her old motivation, as her steadily increasing grades and extracurricular accomplishments show. Amy clearly belongs at a selective academic institution like Texas State University, and it would be unfair to hold a family tragedy against her. Please include her in your freshman class this fall. Feel free to call me at school anytime if you would like to discuss Amy's record further. Sincerely, Ms. Glenda Peterson

Dr. Murray Rosen Northwest Plano Clinical Psychology Associates 4900 Jefferson Avenue, Ste. 3600 Plano, TX 74634 To Whom It May Concern: I am writing at the request of Amy Elizabeth Armstrong, who has been in my care for the past two years. Amy and her father came to me for family counseling shortly after Mrs. Armstrong died of cancer in June 1996. Because her father travels frequently on business, Amy was suffering from emotional exhaustion and stress as a result of having cared for her mother through much of her long illness. In addition, she suffered severe depression for several months after her mother's death. During the 1995-1996 school year Amy missed several weeks of classes due to her exhaustion and depression; as a result, her grades suffered. In my professional judgment, her difficulties in school were a direct result of the trauma her family experienced and should not be used against her in weighing her general academic potential. In fact, during the past year, Amy has worked through much of her grief and has returned to the level of achievement that marked her school record previous to 1995. If you have any questions about Amy's record, please do not hesitate to call my office. Sincerely, Murray Rosen, Ph.D.

Northridge Hills High School "A 1996 Presidential Medal of Honor School" 492 North Loop Expressway Plano, Texas 76429 Official Transcript for Armstrong, Amy E. Freshman Year U.S. History: A Biology I: A Orchestra: A Creative Writing/Gifted: A English I/Honors: A Algebra I: A- French I: A Sophomore Year Geometry I/Honors: D English II/Gifted: C French II: D Biology II: F Government: C Creative Writing/Gifted: B Junior Year Algebra II: C American Literature/Gifted: A French III: B Biology II: B Chemistry I: B Texas History: A Senior Year AP English/Honors: A (* AP Exam Score = 4, COLLEGE CREDIT AWARDED) Advanced Algebra: A Trigonometry/Honors: A French IV: B Orchestra: A Physics: A Creative Writing/Gifted: A Extracurricular Activities: Gifted/Talented Program (I-IV), Orchestra (I,IV), French Club (I,IV), Student Council (I), Honor Roll (I,IV), Quiz Bowl (I), National Honor Society (I), Service Club (I), Literary Magazine (IV), AP Program (IV), School Film Series (IV).