Earlier today I received this email from the JHU Admissions Office. At the end of my senior year most of my grades slipped to Bs, and on top of that I got a C in AP Calc BC. However, my grade would’ve been a B+, but I somehow bombed the final exam. Based on this letter, am I at risk to get rescinded? Also, would it be acceptable to respond saying my grades declined because after being accepted, I finally had time to focus more on my extracurriculars and independent studies, as they aligned more closely with my academic interests than my actual course load?
Our office recently received your final secondary school transcript. After reviewing your year-end performance, we noticed a decline in your academic achievement and want to make sure you have the tools you need as you begin your undergraduate career at Johns Hopkins.
There are many resources on campus designed specifically to help undergraduates adjust and succeed, including an excellent advising system, tutoring and study skills programs, and personal counseling services.
Please reply to this email by Wednesday, August 12, 2015, and provide us with some background regarding the circumstances surrounding the academic performance reflected in your final transcript so that we can be sure the proper support and resources are in place.
We join many others in wishing that your transition to Johns Hopkins will be a successful one.
I highly doubt that you’re going to get rescinded for slipping to Bs. And this letter keeps referring to “beginning your undergraduate career,” the services on campus, and your transition to Hopkins, so I don’t think you’re at risk.
Your reason is fine. But make sure that you aren’t implying that you purposefully disregarded your academic obligations to pursue your interests. I’m assuming that it just was the unintended consequence of trying to enjoy the rest of your senior year. Always show remorse, and point out that if you still have the honor of being a student in the fall, you’ll hold off on the ECs until you get your academics together.
The letter is likely fishing to see if any specific change affected your academics that the university would need to address. Such as if you became suddenly ill and they would need to put you in touch with campus health, if there was a death in the family or other traumatic event that would need you too be in touch with school psychological and counseling services, etc.
I wouldn’t recommend saying you focused on other things and let your studies slip, even with the modifier that they align with your interests. That makes it seem as though you actively chose behaviors you knew would allow your grades to lower after acceptances, which is a major red flag for admissions. The worst thing for them to think is that the highly motivated student who they admitted was only highly motivated by college apps, and will be on a downward spiral now that motivation is gone. Any sort of extenuating circumstance out of your control that will be resolved before you start at Hopkins would be the best response to that letter.
I’d not respond with the excuse of senioritis. I think you can state that you had a B+ going into the final, studied, but must have not understood some of the material for Calc. If you are taking calc again, explain that you will take advantage of study sessions or tutoring offered. If you were successful on the AP exam, include that information.
Keep it short. Admit to slipping. State what you will do to make sure you are successful.
They want to know if you need extra support once you arrive to campus. Just be honest. You probably don’t need a tutor, scribe, extra time or any other accommodations. They understand that kids can be boneheads sometimes.