How do I go about explaining family situation on College Apps? (reason for Soph gpa)

Applying to College
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<p>My sophomore GPA was horrendous. And I mean HORRENDOUS... 2.6 or something like that. Anyway, it brought down my GPA so much. It really affected my overall GPA. The reason it was so poor was because... Well there was a lot of delicate family stuff going on my sophomore year. And all that family stuffjust made me really apathetic. Maybe a bit depressed. I just didn't care if I did poorly. So I didn't turn in any assignments. My tests were fine, but not turning in hw brought my grades down to C's. I tried more this past year, but my GPA is still low. Well not low, but only a B.</p>

<p>Well, I'm a rising senior, and I'll be starting my college apps in less than a month. I was wondering how I can go about explaining the circumstances? (either as an attached letter or in room that is provided on the applications) How much information is too much? I don't wanna get to personal (I know that's always bad), but giving too little will just sound like a bs excuse (it might still sound like a bs excuse... especially with you all knowing nothing about the situation).</p>

<p>Thanks for the responses.</p>

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<p>I had something like this happen to my family my junior year. Have your college counselor help you write a short explanation. On most applications there is a place for you to explain anything that may have affected your academic performance.</p>

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<p>Have your counselor write it in his/her recommendation (discuss beforehand what he/she will say). Don't write anything on your part of the app.</p>

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<p>^ I disagree. If the problem was with your family and affected you, it's OK to include it. Personal problems such as drug abuse and eating disorders are more delicate.</p>

<p>You need to explain the drop in your grades if it was so significant.</p>

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<p>Write a letter about it to the colleges. But as long as you improved, there shouldn't be much of a problem although your chances dropped dramatically for extremely competitive schools such as Harvard. You still have a very good shot at top state schools.</p>

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<p>You can talk about your problem in your essay, especially if it has changed you or your view of life. Don't mention anything about bad grades, just say something like "I didn't even feel in any mood to study" or something like that, but don't go into detail about it.</p>

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<p>I agree withh angelutza. Don't emphasize your failures. Just emphasize your improvements.</p>

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<p>It would be interesting for people to post a list of personal challenges which would be OK to explain on apps, and some that you should just keep to yourself. I can't think of many which would elicit sympathy, really, even though I bet there a lot of things which could mess someone up for a while. </p>

<p>I would say the death of a parent or sibling or a serious health crisis (major surgery, cancer) would be on the short list. I wonder if they get a lot of explanation letters on certain topics, such as a parent suddenly losing employment, a major geographic move, eating disorders, depression, etc. I also wonder how they handle these various explanations for GPA drops.</p>

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<p>what you have to consider is the "circumstances"- how unusual were they, etc</p>

<p>your post shows an apathy, just not bothering much, when really, much was in your control</p>

<p>you CHOICE not to do things, turn in homework, etc</p>

<p>think of it this way, you are going to have tons of kids who had hardships as well, but managed to get stuff done, and aren't making excuses, or are having GC say, even after Grandma died, who was Becky's guardian, Becky still maintained her grades etc</p>

<p>I am not saying your reasons for the slip weren't real and didn't affect you, they did, but if you use that as an excuse to just not care anymore, don't think that would fly</p>

<p>"despite many hardships, Timmy kept up his spirit and drive, and managed to keep up with his school in an admirable fashion" vs</p>

<p>"Tommy's family had some serious issues and Tommy just didn't seem to care much about school anymore, and didn't turn in papers, though he was obviouslly very capable as inidcated by his test scores in those classes"</p>

<p>You will get into a great school, just keep at it</p>

<p>A B average wil still get you accepted at some wonderful schools</p>

<p>So, think hard about what the circumstances and family stuff were that affected you so much, and were they so horrendous and different that it is amazing you actually did as well as you did, or are they "run of the mill" family garbage that thousands of kids deal with all the time</p>

<p>I am not trying to be harsh, just suggesting how an Admin person might see the excuse, as, wow, its amazing he is still breathing to gee, lots of kids parents split up</p>

<p>I have no clue about what happened with your family, but am trying to show a perspective an Admissions person might take, and that is just something to think about</p>

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<p>That girl her last name was popkin featured in the "super applicants" in ny magazine didnt she have cancer or something and she managed to get like a 4.5 gpa and do all these wonderful things and get into brown</p>

<p>on the common app there should be a part saying attach a paper explaining an interuption to your education</p>

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<p>That's why she was a 'super applicant'. But Brown deferred her. So that may not have been enough.</p>