<p>I've always dreamed of going to Cornell. I'm not that guy who makes a big chart of all the Ivies and decides that Cornell is his best shot at getting into the oh-so-exclusive Ivy League club. I studied the school, found the structure unique and compelling and am planning to take Film Studies at Ithaca over the summer.</p>
<p>I maintained a 3.8 GPA up till freshman year (I had four "counted" classes in 8th grade that were factored into my transcript).</p>
<p>Unfortunately, in the middle of my sophomore year my grandmother passed away. Having grown up with her for four years in another country since birth, and having her as my unofficial babysitter for another 4 years after my move to the US (my mom was very busy trying to finish college and starting her own business) I became closer to her than my own father, and the revolting Machievallian monster that is my mother.</p>
<p>I plan to work very, very hard over the next one and a half years and hope to bump up my average to a 3.75-3.8. I'm enlisted for 4 AP classes in my junior year. I'm editor of the high school literary magazine, founder of a book club, winner of a Scholastic Art/Writing Award and just made the deadline to attend Columbia's Creative Writing Program over the summer. I plan to work very, very hard over the next one and a half years and hope to bump up my average to a 3.75-3.8. I am especially strong writer, with an infatuation with cinema (screenplay writing is my forte). I know that the admissions officers at Cornell probably are probably showered with "sob stories" yet I feel if given the opportunity I could really properly explain the depth of my depression. I hate making excuses but I truly feel that this is a legitimate explanation - everyone I've talked to so far simply shakes their head and tells me that nothing but the "tragic loss of both of your parents to cancer" could excuse bad grades, which ...me off, cause some kids might shrug off the death of their grandparents like it's nothing but my grandmother was, for all intents and purposes, my mother. But how can I explain without coming off as...excus-y?</p>
<p>Keep in mind that colleges do not look at anything before high school and most colleges discount freshmen year grades. Check into Cornell but I am pretty sure they do not factor in freshmen year- and if they do, it is not significant as your peak years- namely sophomore and junior year grades.</p>
<p>While I have not experienced what you have, I completely understand your situation- and the spot you are in. First piece of advice- MAINTAIN A HEALTHY AND GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR GUIDANCE COUNSELOR. I cannot stress this enough. There is a section where the counselor can explain discrepencies/inconsistencies reflected in your transcript. This is where you craft a nice, heartfelt letter about your situation and again, if you do maintain a good relationship with your counselor, she can submit that or at least rephrase your letter. Many students discuss deaths in their essays- which is also always an option. If you create a good essay, it will balance the emotion with a good writing style- enough so that it should come off across as genuine, a good sign of development and overcoming obstacles, and just a good essay! You really don’t have to worry about those things until the summer before your senior year so don’t worry about that. If I were you, however, I would keep an online journal( a simple word document) and write down any feelings you have and anything that comes to you over the next couple of years of your life. that way, you encapsulate the emotion and potency related to whatever event at the moment and you can recapture it for college app essays- one of the reasons that essays may come of “whiney” ( other than just bad writing) is because that emotion, those little distinct memories( the smell of the hosptial, a patient you saw, a person you met, the spot on the wall…) aren’t there anymore and there are only vague,hazy memories connected with strong emotions- which doesn’t always translate into a good, distinguishable essay. You have to think that there WILL be other students writing about death as an obstacle- because it so obviously is!- so how do you seperate YOUR essay from theirs?</p>
<p>I also want to applaud you on your achievements! I had no freaking clue or idea about what I wanted to do or what my passions were as distinctly as you do! I’ve grown a lot over the past year and have really developed my interests but kudos to you for really getting that early start! You have an impressive activity resume and just continue to really develop your interests and look for any opportunities that exemplify those interests. I knew a student who got C’s in high school but got into Cornell- he did start a very successful business, however. So, all is not lost- especially because your circumstances are explainable. Don’t get stressed out though- take a breather every now and then. If you continue on your path and really develop those EC’s, then I see no problem! Fantastic, amazing accomplishments come from people who know what they are passionate about- try to extend your activities beyond just your school- ways to contribute and involve the community.</p>
<p>For instance, a student who is very interested in art may hold a gallery showing and raise funds for malaria,etc. Combine your interests and expand them- you have time! Don’t freak out!</p>
<p>If you follow through until senior year and really get your grades up, as long as you write an extremely awesome essay about the death of your grandmother (and hint that the reason for the bad grades was due to your grandma passing away of course ^^), you should be ok.</p>
<p>Wow, thanks. Didn’t expect such an in-depth response. You rock, dude.</p>
<p>Quick question, though:</p>
<p>"There is a section where the counselor can explain discrepencies/inconsistencies reflected in your transcript. This is where you craft a nice, heartfelt letter about your situation and again, if you do maintain a good relationship with your counselor, she can submit that or at least rephrase your letter. "</p>
<p>A bit confused. Do you mean that I can only craft a supplementary statement if my counseler decides that I deserve it? And I told my guidance counseler, but she didn’t seem particularly distraught. Truth be told, she looked a bit insincere. It’s probably because she’s been at my school since prehistoric times and has heard plenty of such stories…oh gosh. I know I have time but I’m freaking out. I mean, I just couldn’t find the willpower to focus on freaking logarithmic functions when I thought of how much time and how many sacrifices she made for me, and the idea of such a fierce, vivid personality being put out just like that…Gah.</p>
<p>Since you’ve said that your counselor doesn’t seem as concerned about it, I would write the letter and attach it yourself. A lot of applications will have sections where you can write a short thing explaining any drops in grades, and this is a spot where you could explain briefly or write a letter. This will help show that you are concerned about keeping your grades up and committed to your acceptance in the school.</p>
<p>I agree with drc09. I mean, if it really is something that significantly affected your grades, then just mention it in the Additional Information section in the college applications. I’m sure almost everycollege/university in the country has had applicants whose grades have declined due to the death of a loved one. </p>
<p>Also, you could mention it to your guidance counselor, who might include a short explanation to the college. Just make sure that if the death of your grandmother was significant in your grades and isn’t an excuse, that gets across somehow, or else the colleges won’t know.</p>
<p>Also, I’m not so sure about writing about the death of a family member in your college essay. It could come out well, but writing about things like this might tell more about your grandmother than about you, so if you do decide to write your essay about this, make sure that the colleges still know more about you.</p>
<p>(I realize this is really late, but I just talked to my guidance counseler again and she made it pretty clear that she doesn’t really give a crap and I’m dying for some advice)</p>
<p>My biggest question is how I can ensure the validity of the event. A senior in our school just got caught for lying that his ‘D’ was due to the death of his mother from breast cancer. As horrific as that is, I’m willing to bet several students try to excuse a poor semester on fabricated ‘extenuating circumstances’ (<em>vomit</em>)</p>
<p>If I somehow manage to get my guidance counseler to…I dunno, care I suppose, can she sort this out or what? And if I’m planning on writing my essay on something else, can I attach a supplementary statement? I know there’s a section on the common application for discrepencies in grades, but can I do anything further?</p>
<p>I have different circumstances than you (my grades dropped because of clinical depression), but what I did was email the admissions atthe college I was interested in going to explain my problem.</p>
<p>They told me I should get the note from my guidance counselor. I would suggest having your parents/guardian call your counselor and explain the situation. I am sure if you email the college you want to get into, you will get a similar response about a letter from your counselor. </p>
<p>The counselor can’t really say no once your parents/guardian confirm that it had a major impact on you AND the college wants you to have the letter from the counselor. And your counselor sounds like a horrible counselor, so I’m sorry about that.</p>
<p>You can still definitely get your GPA up, so don’t worry so much! Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks! I think I will send over an e-mail.</p>
<p>And yeah, my guidance counseler is a miserable old harpy. It’s really depressing too, because my cousin’s GC wrote this wonderful little letter for her explaining her less than stellar junior grades due to mono and my cousin went off to Amherst…<em>sigh</em></p>