<p>You don't need a 4.0 to get into Brown. You certainly don't need a 4.0 to keep your acceptance. As a student at Brown, I must say that most people here do not have 4.0's.</p>
<p>I am feeling really bewildered. can someone explain to me what's so distressing about an A- ? (this is a serious question)</p>
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I am feeling really bewildered. can someone explain to me what's so distressing about an A- ? (this is a serious question)
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For me? Nothing.</p>
<p>For her? Failing to meet her own expectations or standards, I'm assuming.</p>
<p>There seems to be two issues here. One that this person has disappointed herself in that she sees herself as a top, top student. Another issue is that she thinks getting an "A-" second semester might actually have real-world consequences like getting rescinded. </p>
<p>The second issue can easily be solved by sending an email to the admissions office asking this question. The response will definitely be that she has absolutely nothing to worry about, and that will reassure her that her acceptance is safe. </p>
<p>The first issue is not really that big of a problem. Perfectionism can sometimes be damaging, but it's better than just saying, "this class is tough, so it's ok if I don't get an "A"". It sounds like she is a student that will get the most out of her classes in college, and that is a good thing.</p>
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Life is so much easier with an underachiever!
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</p>
<p>Well, Originaloog, that depends...mine has developed his underachiveringness late, and is definitely not making anyone's life easier.</p>
<p>Very, very few kids in the schools my kids attended got straight As. I'm sure there were some, but no one really knew about them or valued that result. Kids were not ranked and GPAs were not calculated. More emphasis was placed on trying new things, learning to write well, appreciating literature and developing as a person. An all AP track was NOT encouraged or even permitted, except in extremely rare circumstances. This is where I think prep schools provide a good perspective. Like Cur's daughter, my kids aren't afraid of that hard class or teacher (although WildChild did bail out of Chinese on the first day of college, since he was the only non-Asian in the class and decided all the alphabets and characters were NOT in his future....).<br>
That said, the OP's daughter will figure it all out. She'll do great at Brown and will have fun, too.</p>
<p>Orchestramom-</p>
<p>Nothing. Absolutely nothing. But, the OP's daughter had a 4.0: "perfection." This may have become part of her identity. No doubt, she felt that the 4.0 was part of why she gained admission to the Dream School. Anything less is a shock to HER after all these years. But it sounds like she has bounced back just fine.</p>
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She got a letter from Yale asking her for an explanation. (The explanation was she stopped working and had a lot of fun.) She is a junior at Yale.
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<p>Funny. It's good to keep some perspective.</p>
<p>better now than later...</p>
<p>The shock of some people at my school when they get a C on a test is amazing. Personally, I am very relaxed when it comes to grades... I just decided that I don't need that stress in my life. I could probably work harder sometimes, but I do ok for myself.</p>
<p>Just hug her hard and bake cookies and love her up even if she growls and says she doesn't want that. Sometimes parenting is just tactile. I don't think "reasoning" is going to get her to unclench. She's been through a harrowing competitive ordeal to get this prestigious college acceptance. I think a lot of kids who were successful at their EA school are experiencing a bit of post-traumatic stress.</p>