<p>How should I go about writing a letter to explain to the admissions committee why I got a less-than-exemplary grade in a class? I don't want to seem like I'm making excuses but the situation was out of my hands.</p>
<p>schbump!</p>
<p>sorry i need an answerr like...NOW!</p>
<p>Explain the facts.</p>
<p>If it was something beyond your control, what did you learn to apply to future situations?</p>
<p>If it was caused by your actions (or lack of), explain your motivation at the time. What could you have done in hindsight to remedy the issue.</p>
<p>Don't whine, or place blame on others. Be honest.</p>
<p>You can also talk to your guidance counselor about possible writing about it in your recommendation.</p>
<p>is this good?</p>
<p>To Whom It May Concern:</p>
<p>As you consider my application for admission to --------, please allow me to explain a less than exemplary part of my transcript. At the end of my junior year, I caught a good friend of mine cheating and changing her grades (unbeknownst to our teacher) in the Algebra 2 class that we both had together. After discussing what I saw with her and trying to figure out the situation before jumping to conclusions, I decided to tell my guidance counselor all that I had discovered. After an investigation led by my school’s administration, it was determined that my friend had in fact cheated and switched her grades in the class. Obviously, the situation put a strain on our friendship, and I blamed myself for putting one of my best friends at risk of expulsion. However, I knew that my conscience could not bear knowing what she did and not telling someone so that proper action could be taken. Therefore, my grades began to slip from A’s to C’s because of the stress that I was under at that hard time. I honestly believe that had I not been in that situation last year, I could have kept up with my rigorous schedule. Thank you for your time and your understanding.</p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>A lot of schools have some sort of section that allows you to write anything else you'd like them to know, and I think something like that might go there. I would recommend you try to reword that letter somehow, though, because right now your excuse sounds kind of weak, no offense or anything. I really understand where you're coming from, but a lot of people go through personal issues with friends, and possibly much worse. I think explaining will at least let colleges know there was a reason, but unfortunately it's going to be hard for your explanation to make up for the grade significantly.</p>
<p>Just state what happened in simple terms and let them know that you were severely stressed by the situation then, but also that you accept responsibility for your grades. Don't refer to it as a "hard time" or anything, and don't paint it as something horrible that you had no control over. Even if that's not what you're doing, you'll want to avoid any semblance of self-pity like the plague.</p>
<p>seriously, writing this letter is harder than writing my ESSAY!</p>