<p>I’m applying to Brown ED. Here’s my dilemma:</p>
<p>I’ve been a great student at a HIGHLY competitive independent school for the last three years. My talent/specialty is English… I was the first person to take senior English electives as a junior at my school, had to fight the department, etc. My rec from my junior year English teacher is effusive in its praise.</p>
<p>Last year, when I was choosing classes, I signed up for the two English classes taught by the hardest, most brilliant teacher at my school because I wanted the challenge, wanted to get better. He thinks grades are irrelevant to learning. He told me after he saw some of my writing that he was going to grade me harder than everyone else because “superior talent improves only with superior challenge.” i appreciate that. i really do. my writing has improved MUCH more than it has in any other English class, ever… But it’s not like Brown knows his classes are any harder than the others.</p>
<p>…So, my unofficial interim grades are an A- and a B+. I’m choosing not to send them, but the college counselor says schools call around November to request senior year grades. What do I do if I still have these grades in November?</p>
<p>My rec will be great. My essays are some of the best writing I’ve ever done… one made my sophomore-year teacher tear up; the librarian sent the other to a magazine. I really do love writing and I AM good at it. But… will weak senior year English be a deal-breaker?</p>