Help! My sister is a lazy writing genius.

Applying to College
1

<p>I have a problem and am seriously at a loss. My sister has horrible grades, (horrible) think at least 6 C's, scattered through all three years (freshman, sophomore, junior year). Second semester junior year, which is super important, she got two C's. </p>

<p>Both our parents are Mexican, she was born in California, so she's an American citizen, but she was raised in Mexico her whole life. (So she's def. URM) She went to a private Catholic high school in California, has three AP scores of 5, and a 2100 on the SAT. She is fluent in English, Spanish and Japanese. She is not disadvantaged. </p>

<p>Part of me feels like she doesn't deserve to go to a good college, she clearly put no effort into school. I don't know why. She had a good upbringing and all of the resources she could possibly want at her disposal. She clearly didn't use them. I mean, she basically didn't turn in her homework. </p>

<p>But of course, I love my sister, and I want the best for her. I am like her second mom because my parents are so busy and they don't know anything about the college applications process in America. </p>

<p>Her essays are very, very good. I know good writing, and they are very good. </p>

<p>I am encouraging to apply to Vassar ED. Is this an ultra reach? Should she be applying to much worse schools (I mean obviously she has safeties), better schools?</p>

<p>I am at a loss, I am just trying to help her and don't want to give her the wrong advice. I am not a college counselor. There are days I read her stuff and I think she could get into Brown, and there are days I think she couldn't even get into San Diego State. </p>

<p>Advice? Thoughts? Compassionate "I feel you's"?</p>

2

<p>Is there any pattern to the courses in which she earned those C grades? Similar subjects? Similar teachers? Similar time of day?</p>

<p>This grad and test score practically shouts ADD or Executive Function Disorder. If her teachers haven’t asked your parent to get her evaluated for those LDs, they are asleep at the wheel. As a caring elder sibling, maybe you can help someone get an evaluation set up. She has less than a year of HS to master the organizational and time management skills she needs for college. There is no time to lose.</p>

<p>If she really likes Vassar, will have the LORs to support her application, and has all the back up applications ready to go, there is no reason not to apply other than saving a bit of money.</p>

3

<p>I am not sure, I don’t live at home anymore. I could ask her, but that actually makes me feel better. She actually did see a psychologist when she was around 10. But she didn’t tell us she has ADD or anything (this was in Mexico.) Our parents are actually both medical specialists.
I’ll ask my parents to take her to an american psychologist, and see what she says.
Too late to change the grades though…
thanks!</p>