Do I have a chance at an Ivy League university considering my academic history?


*I studied at the best (top 1) law school in the Philippines. I passed its entrance exam after 1 take. Some of my classmates made it after two or three tries.

*However, I wasn't too sure if I really wanted to become a lawyer then. The uncertainties made it very difficult for me to concentrate, especially since I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder (though it is now very much contained and I never had problems since 2013).

*I left that school without actually being dismissed. However, my grades were very low due to the uncertainty.

*I transferred to another school where I eventually came on top. I was the number 1 student for two semesters. I wouldn't know after my third semester since I transferred again to another school.

*I was doing exceptionally well with my 2nd school. The second student on the list was 2.++% away. My GPA was 89.7%. His was 87.++%

*However, I was diagnosed with a terminal disease on my third sem (but I'm very much fine now and wouldn't die as long as I take my meds). So my parents asked me to transfer to a local university.

*In my third school, I would often get the highest of marks each and every subject. I didn't graduate valedictorian though because that school doesn't grant honors for transferees. In fact, they never computed my GPA at all. However, the valedictorian saw my grades on one tiny sheet of paper where I computed my GPA and told me (without myself soliciting) that my GPA was higher than his, which was 87++%. Mine was over 88%.

*Another complication is that during my last year in law school, I was drinking meds that induce insomnia, causing me to have forgetful memories. Before, I could memorize provisions of law after only two tries. During that year, I needed to memorize provisions of law after about ten tries. Reading comprehension was also affected severely.

*However, despite that, I'd still get some of the highest grades. I would no longer land on top but I was still among the top 3 students.

*Undergrad profile shows that I was cum laude in one of the best accounting schools in the country where I also received the Best in Feasibility Studies award.


I am planning to major in Environmental Law. My biggest weakness is my transcript of records, but I can provide medical certificates not only to substantiate my health history but also to show my fitness for LLM studies.

Is it possible for me to be accepted in an Ivy League university or T14? If yes, where do you think may I be admitted?

I’m sorry to hear about everything you had to go through; I do think the admissions team will definitely take that into consideration. Unfortunately, I doubt they will care too much about the details and anecdotes about the 2nd rank’s GPA and you scoring higher than the valedictorian, unless you can get your school to write a formal letter confirming that. 

I’m quite confused as to what are your academics on paper - formal academics that can be substantiated and will actually have to be taken into account. 

For now, it appears you will have to disclose:
-The poor grades from your first Uni.
-Top grades for 2 semesters from your second uni
-Graduated top 3 from your third uni?

If that’s the case, you have great academics. The only issue is the grades from your first Uni, but you did have mitigating circumstances. I’m not sure about unis such as Havard and Yale, but your academics surely wouldn’t rule you out for T14 schools in general, provided you also have the other things they look for beyond academics.