<p>Well my brother is going to write his college application next year, however, his freshman grades were not great. (3.2 uw gpa). It was because of my mother having a tumor in her stomach and it meant using a lot of our family's resources to pay for chemo and surgery. With no job and with bills adding up, my brother ran errands for people for some money. He told me yesterday that he refuses to state this in his application. With his dream to go to top 10 schools, I believe that he needs to add this event in order to gain an edge. How should I force him to write it in his application? For the job part of the application, he also refuses to write the errands he has run to contribute to the family.
What should I do?
I love my brother to death and want him to go to a top 10 school. Help!</p>
<p>Would he consider writing one of his essays about this subject?</p>
<p>It might be touchy for him because it is an issue of the heart. He doesn't want to "use" his mother to get into college. He might even be feeling some ambivalence about the whole idea of leaving her.</p>
<p>And in that case, perhaps you might consider asking his college counselor or a teacher to write a letter on his behalf to be considered with his application? I'm not one of the people on this forum who does this stuff for a living, but I have to think that it would make a difference to hear about mitigating family circumstances.</p>
<p>What do you mean by "top ten schools?"
This isn't the way to find a good fit in a college. I would advise against pushing him to say anything in his application he isn't comfortable with. He is not you. It won't come across well if he puts something in there because YOU think it would help. His essays are where he is suppose to show his passion, and if he can do that, he'll be fine.
Is the 3.2 his current gpa, or just his freshman gpa? Not knowing anything more about his interests and desires, it's hard to recommend a course of action. I would not push him, though.
Make sure he has a balanced list of schools, including several where his gpa fits in the average of the school, and don't get too caught up in the prestige of a "top 10" or other such descriptors. Look at each school for what it can offer your brother, and what he can bring to it. It sounds like he doesn't need any more pressure right now.
Best of luck to you and your brother, and hope your mom is doing better.</p>
<p>Building on the previous posts:</p>
<p>His GC should discuss his freshman year issues. It would come off better than from him.</p>
<p>Many colleges discount freshman year grades (Princeton does not ask for them, for example). So, if he was able to bring his grades up, he is in a better position than if his GPA was currently 3.2. </p>
<p>Also, help him choose a college that is a good fit. It may be a "top"college, or it may not; there are so many considerations: size, location, weather, school spirit, etc... And many beyond the so-called top ten can provide a great education.</p>
<p>Good of you to be so supportive of your brother!</p>
<p>NO NO I am not pushing him to get into a top 10 school. He is the one who wants to get in. I am just trying to tell him that his freshman GPA might hurt him for top 10 school (besides princeton and stanford) and the only way he can increase his chances are to write an essay on the freshman year. I am not forcing him by anymeans, he seems to be wanting to get in to a top school. (most likely to get out of here, LA)</p>
<p>I am not suggesting that you are pushing your brother to apply only to top ten schools. But it would be helpful for you to suggest he consider schools that are somewhat less hard to get into. They can offer as good an education as some of the more selective ones. And most aren't in LA!</p>
<p>Bravo to your brother in trying to leave LA!! </p>
<p>That said, I would hazard a guess that your brother feels that he would be accepted for the wrong reasons (pity?), and not for who he is. I think this is a common feeling; and one used to discount all of the strategies for applying to college - SAT prep and slightly swarmy essays.</p>
<p>There can definitely be a way to approach this subject where he is not going for the pity acceptance. It appears that it was an experience where he pitched in to help his family when there was a need. He need not call out that this affected his grades. He can just be clear as to what school year this occured.</p>
<p>Rex:</p>
<p>It's good that your brother is ambitious and wants to go to a school where he thinks he will be challenged. I'm assuming that his grades went way up, which is why he is aspiring to go to a top ten school. As I said, colleges tend to discount freshman grades and look for an upward trend.</p>
<p>But he can get a great education at schools that are not in the top ten. In fact, I would hazard that he can get a great education in schools that are in the top 50 or even top 100. Instead of focusing on top 10, it would be helpful for him to identify some characteristics of the type of schools he would like to attend: size, geographical location, school climate and the like. </p>
<p>As for the specific concern you have, I believe most forms ask if there is anything else the adcom should know. This is where your brother should put in his explanation. And the GC should also mention this in the rec. Do not use the essay to do so; it might come off as whiny or clich</p>