Explaining (Irregular) Bad Grades

Applying to College
1

<p>So, I am basically a straight A student in a good high school with extra curriculars, test scores and all that good stuff.</p>

<p>Thing is, first semester of Junior year, I slipped up kind of badly. I received a B in two classes (they were actually a 91 and 92), and a C in Spanish III, which was an 84. Ignoring the fact I was close to just getting a B in one class instead of this mess (which drove me nuts), it leaves a pretty big blot on my record among all the pretty little A's.</p>

<p>To elaborate, I basically got hit by the perfect storm of problems. My family kind of went dysfunctional for awhile due to my younger brother's video game addiction and my parents getting into a huge fight about it was each others' fault and not talking. I ended up doing all the household duties, and having to get to school and back on my own. </p>

<p>In addition, I had to work on my ISEF project, which, although it didn't get past regionals, was a pretty big deal (spent a couple hundred hours in a research lab, and a couple hundred more writing the damn thing). To a lesser extent, junior year was a huge step up from sophomore year in terms of courseload, but I think I could have handled it pretty well otherwise.</p>

<p>On a brighter side, I managed to bring all my grades up to A's second semester. And family life has returned to a rather delicate equilibrium. My Spanish teacher may be writing my extra recc for a couple schools, and my English teacher is writing one of my common app recommendations actually.</p>

<p>I plan to apply to a lot of top tier colleges: right now its looking like 3/4 of HYPS actually, with a scattering of a lot of other schools. But specifically, I am curious what effect that this lapse will have on my chances to HYPS. </p>

<p>I would rather not have to write a veiled "pity-me" essay about this struggle that I have overcome. I feel it would come across as merely a rather melodramatic excuse.</p>

<p>So, what will happen? Everything else is pretty shipshape, just don't know how this leak will look. And if you guys have any suggestions, please share. :)</p>

2

<p>Focus your essay on the positive – on a topic far removed from grades, and not on the reasons for less than perfect junior year grades.</p>

3

<p>I would not suggest a pity me essay. Adcom are reading apps where a student’s parent has died, a student has cancer or is homeless. Pity me over routine family problems most probably won’t get you much sympathy.</p>

<p>I can’t lie, a junior year grade drop is a problem. But do your best and balance your list with schools that are not as impossible as HYPS. Good luck!</p>