Explaining bad semester grade

<p>My mid-yr report will be soon sent to the schools I've applied to, and I have to explain about the decline of my GPA. </p>

<p>So do I have my counselor write a letter or do I write a letter? (My school doesn't fill out the mid-yr report form>>they just send transcript in bulk mail)</p>

<p>Also another question: in terms of calculating mid-yr GPA, how does school calculate it? Do they just add up the semester grades (even if they're a yr-long course like IB/APs) and average it without weighing? I'm confused</p>

<p>You will have to talk to your counselor - schools seem to have a variety of different methods.</p>