Lawson - University of Alabama - Class of 2028

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I have always struggled with ADHD. Before high school, I tried to adapt to this disorder without medication, and I fell behind academically, especially in math. Once I got to high school, I began working with my teachers to develop learning skills and strategies, and I started medication. Eventually, my low GPA improved junior and senior year, but I was still worried about my college chances.

Three Dream Schools – All Reaches

My first choice was always the University of Alabama (UA) because of its school spirit, SEC teams, and in-state cost. I have attended Alabama football games my whole life and love the energy on campus.

My other top choices were two small, private colleges: Sewanee: The University of the South in Tennessee, and Hampden-Sydney College (H-SC), a men’s college in Virginia. Both had beautiful campuses, lots of outdoor activities, and provided opportunities for one-on-one attention from professors. I thought I might do better at a smaller school with fewer distractions than at a huge college like UA.

A Reality Check with My Counselor – and a Plan

My college counselor said she had seen students with grades and test scores much higher than mine get denied at these schools, so I did not feel good about my chances of acceptance. She didn’t discourage me from applying, but she recommended that I apply to a lot of other schools where my chances were better.

She also said that my volunteer and leadership experience at school, church and camp could boost my chances at some colleges. She advised me to write a strong essay and to get a good letter of recommendation that emphasized my character, attitude and academic improvement.

My Application and Essay

For my essay, I explained my history with ADHD and the work I did with my teachers. I tried to convey that, while I learned my subjects well, I also developed critical thinking, time-management skills and self-motivation. 

For my letter of recommendation, I asked the teacher of my most difficult class—math. This teacher was new at my school, but he brought out the best in everyone. He could see that I struggled but tried very hard to achieve. I hoped he would emphasize how hard I worked and how much improvement I made.

Decision Ups and Downs

In October, I received my first wave of decisions. I was admitted to several right away including Troy University, Jacksonville State and Mississippi State. This was a huge relief! But because the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) wouldn’t be available for another two months, I couldn’t apply for financial aid yet. It was difficult to get excited about my acceptances without being sure I could afford any of them – especially the out-of-state schools.

In December, several colleges contacted me asking for my mid-year grades – including Samford and Loyola New Orleans — and my top two choices, UA and Sewanee! I arranged for my grades to be sent, hoping they showed the improvement these schools were looking for. Soon I heard back from Samford and Loyola, and to my surprise, I got accepted to both! This news raised my hopes about Sewanee and UA.

Then in January I got denied by Sewanee. I was disappointed because they had asked for more information and were taking a while to respond, and I had hoped that was a good sign. Now I felt less confident about UA.

Weeks went by with no news from Alabama, while many of my friends had already been accepted there. I was excited and happy for my friends, but I also wanted to celebrate good news.

Frustrations with the FAFSA

Meanwhile, my family and I struggled to complete the FAFSA. In addition to the form coming out two months later than usual, it had calculation and system errors that delayed the process even further.

It took a couple of weeks of trying, daily, for me and my family just to log into the online application. We had problems signing the form; then once we had signed it, we got messages saying it wasn’t signed. When we tried to “re-sign” the form, we couldn’t log in because the application was down. It was just such a drain of time, and since I’d never applied for financial aid before, I thought I was doing something wrong.

Better Late Than Never

Two days before UA’s priority housing deadline, I still hadn’t heard back from them. When my counselor told me to check my UA student portal, I didn’t want to because I was sure I was going to see a denial. But, I did as she asked — and I was accepted! I cheered in the hallway with my counselor and my friends. A week later, I got in at Hampden Sydney, too!

While I was very excited about my acceptances, so much of my decision relied on financial aid and scholarships. But because of the FAFSA delays, none of my top schools had sent my financial aid offers. Since UA wanted my decision by May 1, I decided to send in my deposit without knowing how much financial aid I would receive.

Second Thoughts at the Last Minute

Shortly afterward, I received H-SC’s financial aid award. H-SC was one of the most expensive schools on my list, but its financial aid offer included grants and scholarships amounting to a significant discount. I still had a large out-of-pocket cost; but there were many pros of attending H-SC: it had a high average starting salary for graduates, a great reputation for alumni networking, and a high four-year graduation rate.

It was a very difficult decision, but I decided to stick with UA. I was concerned about H-SC’s location 12 hours from home, and I worried that the college may be too small with too little to do socially. In contrast, I knew at least 100 people attending UA, so I would have a strong support system, and it was only four-hours from home. Despite UA being a huge college full of distractions, I felt at home there.

Fortunately, when UA’s financial aid offer arrived, it included scholarships and grants that covered my tuition costs, making it much less expensive than H-SC—and the best choice for me.

The Money Factor

While grants and scholarships are covering my tuition, I am paying for the rest (books, room, board, fees, etc.) with money that my parents and I have saved. I don’t plan to take out any loans for my undergraduate education.

My Advice

• If you have a low GPA and/or test scores, apply to several schools that have non-competitive admissions or where you have a high chance of getting in. You’ll feel the accomplishment of getting into college, and I found that many of these schools were places where I would be happy. 

• Consider submitting a personal essay even if the school doesn't require one. Highlight your academic improvement, skills, and leadership roles that make you ready for college.
• Don’t just add a list of extracurriculars, bring the spotlight to the ones that meant a lot to you. Focus on what you contributed, how you grew from the experience and how you can use that experience to contribute to your college or community.

How CollegeData Helped Me on the Road to College

I used CollegeData for college research, but the site also helped me learn the difference between a college’s sticker price and the net price families usually pay out-of-pocket. The Chances Calculator was helpful when I had to find schools where I had the best chances of getting in.

Read More Student Stories:

	Brooklyn - University of Chicago “Every teacher I worked with said not to write my essay about trauma — but I wanted to write about my life, how hard I have worked, and what I have been able to accomplish despite, and also because of, my past struggles.”
	Laura - Boston College "Try to negotiate with colleges for more aid. You might hear 'no' from some schools, but others may work with you."