Brown is pretty much the dream fo me but as usual there is a catch. Im an international student. Im currently doing my A Levels. 

 My final grades are slated to be excellent and I have the right extra currics and Im fairly certain I can write a decent essay. While my transcripts up to grade 11 are stellar, my final two years show poor terms grades. Does this completely nix my chances of admission?

 Can a good SAT score and good end results, paired with essays that show my passion outweigh the negative set backs of a despicable term report? If I cite my genuine personal problems will I sound like a brown noser [ pardon the pun] or just someone who honestly had a tough time and it affected their grades? Beign a student from across the globe means Im already disadvantaged for a spot, can you tell me how much this will adversely affect my chances?

 Any response will be welcome. Thank you. And for those of you who are already there, I have to ask-Is the campus pretty? As an architects daughter I simply must know.