<p>I got deferred from my top choice school and I've been advised by a teacher, whom I hold in the highest regard, to write a letter to the Dean of Admissions at the College to underscore that the school really is my first choice school and what I can bring to the floor. However, this is my first time writing something like this so does anyone have any suggestions on how to start? I'm having massive writer's block from having to frantically fill out a ton of other applications so my brain is a little bit fried on top of being wicked nervous about writing directly to the Dean. Am I even supposed to do this?</p>
<p>Others may disagree, but I’m not sure you’ve been given great advice.</p>
<p>You should definitely write if you have significant accomplishments–even moderately noteworthy accomplishments–since your ED application. But if the thing you have to tell your ED school is that they’re far and away your first choice, well, you already told them that as clearly as can be when you applied ED.</p>
<p>And I’m not sure I’d send that to the dean, either. I’d write to the admissions officer who handles applications from your area. I’m not at all sure the dean wants to read letters from applicants, and I’d bet you $100 that he or she will just forward your letter to that admissions officer anyway.</p>
<p>Yeah…aside from my grades nothing has really changed. I dropped my main sport (swimming) to focus on getting a really strong second quarter because I think that was what spooked the college because my grades were really out of character from the rest of my transcript. Do you think that it’s worth explaining to the college why my first quarter looks the way it does, because there’s actually a good reason for it?</p>
<p>You should DEFINITELY tell them what happened! My daughter had a dip in the first semester of her junior year due to a nasty bout of swine flu. On the advice of her counselor, she explained the reason in the notes section of the Common App. </p>
<p>The college could see it was true because her grades went back up to straight A’s the second semester of junior year, and she was accepted ED.</p>
<p>If you do decide to send a letter, I would second the suggestion that you send it directly to the admissions rep for your area. You may also want to call and talk to him/her directly. According to my daughter’s dean of college guidance (who used to be the dean of admissions at one of the top LACs in the country), your regional rep is always your best ally. I would bet my bottom dollar yours argued to give you another chance and not to reject you.</p>
<p>It seems to me that since you’ve already been deferred there is very little you can do at the moment. The college has not doubt moved on to regular decision candidates, and you’re one of the regular decision candidates. At some point send the college an update regarding your application. Ideally it would complement your ED application – as for example your first semester grades (which because you dropped swimming would show an upward spike), some significant achievement, etc. I don’t think sending the “explanation” for the grade dip by itself is the way to go. Perhaps your counselor can do that for you.</p>
<p>I’m mostly repeating what Sikorsky is saying above.</p>