I’ve discussed this in a previous post, but I moved to a more difficult high school for my junior and senior year (more difficult than the IB program I would have attended otherwise) that had resulted in my first semester junior year grades to drop. I recovered to my regular scores in the second semester but I still feel like I should address it as it resulted in the only B’s I have earned. Would the additional information section be the right place to include this. Also, if my guidance counselor is going to explain it (albeit without the IB detail), would it be redundant to try to explain it myself, or would it enhance the explanation and show that I have high standards and challenge myself?
Likewise, I have a six week research experience that is a school requirement. Should I discuss it here in detail, or briefly mention it as a summer “extracurricular” even though it was a requirement?
None of what you mentioned should appear anywhere on your application.
- If you got failing grades, then justification in the additional info section would be valid. But “I went to a harder school” is whining.
- Because you didn’t seem to care very much about the research thing, I would not even list it.
It shouldn’t appear anywhere? What is that supposed to mean, I shouldn’t have anything explaining a change in schools and a drop in grades? That seems like a very useful information for AO’s.
Also, I know I sound less than enthusiastic about the research, but that’s because it is required and may not have as much weight as someone who really did independent research. It’s the same as saying you did 100 hours of community service as a requirement. Mandatory volunteering is less impressive.
I really did enjoy it, and went to the school I did because of the research program, so I feel like it would be important to mention.
so is the college to think that when you “change” schools again, and attend their school (college) that you are likely to have another drop in grades? Be careful about trying to make excuses. They will see that you changed schools, and your counselor (will?) mention it. I would leave it at that.
If you think something is important and additional info will be helpful to admissions, I would go with your gut and put it in. However, if it is something that you have already addressed in another essay, it is not “additional info” and would probably not be helpful to them.
I think in general when you’re trying to justify bad grades etc., it’s always better for the guidance counsellor to do it so it doesn’t look like you’re making up excuses.