So I just have a quick question. I think I already know the answer, but I’m hoping for help from those who have been through the admissions process.
I’m a junior finishing up my last days of the year. I have always gotten As and a few A-s, however, this semester I will be getting one B and two B-s. I realize this is a terrible downgrade from my previous grades.
On the other hand, I may have some special circumstances. Over the last three months, I began a 20-25 hr/wk job, and I will begin to see a therapist this summer. I know it’s not a good idea to self-diagnose, but I am fairly sure that I have at least minor depression according to information from my counselor and my psychology textbook (haha). Once I start working through these problems, I am determined to have a much better senior year. I feel confident that I can get all As again the first semester next school year.
My question is, would I be better off holding off on applying EA anywhere? I hate to give up the advantage in admissions that it provides, but I realize that a semester of strong grades will help to show that I have bounced back. I also feel confident that my counselor will be able to write a great letter of recommendation that will explain circumstances. How much would they - I don’t want to say excuse, because there really isn’t an excuse - but explain my lower grades?
I feel like I should add a bit more information. I’m planning to apply to top schools like Harvard and Brown, as well as near-Ivy schools like Georgetown, Duke, and Northwestern. I have a few other schools as well. I have a 35 composite on the ACT and SSAT scores of 770 for Lit and 720 for Spanish (not a native speaker). Will these help to balance out my GPA?
peyton, I am not an admissions officer, but here are some thoughts. First, seeing a therapist if you need one is a good thing.
You have a 35 ACT so that is phenomenal. Will it balance out your grades… maybe. Remember that almost no one has a guaranteed ticket to these schools.
So, the big questions are these:
- Does the rest of your application “tell a story”? When the admissions officer looks through your whole portfolio, is there a consistent message about you.
- What are you passionate about? And if you have a part-time job, is it to help support your family? Or is the job itself part of your passions/dreams?
This will be my second child going through college admissions. Doing an EA app is a good idea–kind of a practice run, and it forces you to finish up your common application sooner. I would recommend you apply to one EA school that is a match/safety, and if you really love these top schools, then I’d pick one reach EA or ED.
Your biggest job right now is to find some match/safeties that are affordable and you would be happy at. Have you looked at Fiske Guide to Colleges? Order a copy on Amazon or check one out from the library. Or tell us what specifically you like about some of these top schools and people can give you suggestions.