Education interruption explanation (+ recommendation letter troubles)

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
1

<p>Hi everyone! I wrote this explanation for my incredibly complicated high school story. I tried to keep it as short as possible, but can someone tell me what they think of it? Should I phrase something differently, leave certain parts out, anything like that?</p>

<p>I attended --school name--, a public school, in my freshman year after completing preschool through 8th grade at a private Catholic school. This transition was very difficult and in the second semester of freshman year, I had to stop attending because of the toll it took on my mental health. I was put on a home/hospital program, which helped me to salvage about half of my classes.</p>

<p>For sophomore year, I transferred to independent study at --school name--, where I continued to struggle with stress and mental health issues. I decided to try online school for the second semester of sophomore year, but this was unsuccessful. The school required all students to complete California’s STAR testing, which is usually not mandatory. I was not informed that it was mandatory for the school and I opted out of the tests, but the school did not accept this and removed me from the system leaving me with no classes, credits, or grades at the end of the semester.</p>

<p>I started junior year at independent study again after a small break and some help from a psychologist and treated it like a fresh start. I was very successful in my last two years of high school and my grades returned to normal. I completed 3 years of work in 2 years and I took 10 classes in my last semester in order to graduate on time. My GPA for grades 11 and 12 would be 3.83, which I feel much more accurately represents my work and academic skills. Unfortunately, however, honors and AP classes are not offered at --school name--, nor are any extracurricular activities.</p>

<p>After the stress of high school, I decided to take some time off before going to college to reevaluate my goals, abilities, and interests (see essay).</p>

<p>Also, doing independent study means I only had one teacher in high school and the school I'm applying to requires two high school teachers to write letters of reference. I attended Middlebury's language schools and I asked one of my teachers from there to write a letter, but she can't submit it because the system requires information about my high school and she is not my high school teacher. I will call the school to ask about this tomorrow, but does anyone have any ideas on what I should do? Will it look bad on my application if I can only get one letter of reference from high school?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>I am not an adcom, but I will give you some feedback- mainly because it will tell you how a total stranger would approach your story. You, and people close to you know your situation, but I would want to know more specifics about what happened to you. Not personal details or TMI, but enough to know these things:</p>

<p>Will you be successful at college X? Will you be able to handle the stress of living and studying with others after independent study? Will you be safe? ie is your medical condition under control and can you manage on your own ? How much support do you need? Will others be safe if you are admitted- ie your hall mates and room mates won’t be worried or frightened if you are not doing well? Can you handle a social environment after studying on your own?</p>

<p>I think your successful completion of HS is a plus, and also that the info from Middlebury is important. It is the only info you have from being in a group setting and college environment. That person can speak to your interaction with them and others. If they can’t complete an electronic eval, then a separate paper letter mailed to the colleges may add this information to your file.</p>

<p>Using a term like “mental health” could be very broad. The reader does not know if you have a specific condition, depression, or other issues. College is stressful and the college will need to know that you can handle it. Again, you don’t want to say too much personal info, but perhaps something like “I was not well prepared to transition from a small religious school to a large public school, and I became depressed.”</p>

<p>Your recovered academically, but you also need to indicate that you recovered emotionally. Something like “With help from a psychologist and appropriate treatment, I recovered from depression and was able to…” and then add something about how you felt in a college setting like Middlebury. </p>

<p>As always, honesty is important here, but a college official will need to know that you are more mature now and emotionally able to handle the demands of college. One childhood episode should not follow you forever, but it is important to let the college know you are ready for this next step.</p>

<p>Don’t post your revised essay on the board (not advisable to post any essays) but repost asking for readers to give feedback by PM. You might also consider letting your psychologist give you feedback too. Good luck.</p>

3

<p>Thanks so much for your feedback. I was considering whether or not to include the details of the mental health struggle I’ve been through, but I wasn’t sure if that was too much information - I know that a lot of the time, people don’t want to know the specifics. But I will try to work that information in, especially since you pointed out that they don’t have proof I will be able to handle a college setting. Thanks again!</p>

4

<p>Also, how long would be considered “too long” for this explanation? After revising it, it’s about 370 words. Should I try to cut it down at all?</p>

5

<p>Your ten classes at the last independent program were all supervised by the same person, and that person is writing one of your rec letters.
Would it work to have the Middlebury rec letter be sent on paper instead of online, with a quick letter of explanation from your independent study program?</p>

6

<p>Ask some trusted adults in your life to review your essay about such sensitive matter- as too much personal detail may not be appropriate either,-Be sure you have been as informative as you need to explain the situation, yet not give TMI. You don’t want it so long that it takes forever to read, yet it needs to explain enough so that the reader does not have questions about it. Be concise but thorough. Choose words that are most descriptive and you won’t need extra length. I think terms like “depression” or “difficulty adjusting to a more permissive social environment” (or something like that- Catholic school is very structured) are more descriptive than “mental health”. Be sure the reader can see your strengths- the academic recovery, and hopefully your recommenders will speak about your personal strengths.</p>

7

<p>siliconvalleymom - The teacher from Middlebury lives in Russia and Russian post is very unreliable - the chances of a letter getting to the U.S. by the application deadline are small. Do colleges ever accept recommendation letters by email?</p>

<p>Pennylane - I will ask someone else to look over it, thanks!</p>

8

<p>I don’t know about e mail. I think they could question the authenticity of it. Since the professor taught at Middlebury- is it possible for them to facilitate a letter- i e have her write it, sign it, fax it to them and they mail it? If they used their envelopes/letterhead it would give some credibility.</p>