<p>As some of you might know from my prevoius posts....I was looking for advice on how to handle my son's college apps. mostly because he had a horrible 9th grade year but has been on an upward trend ever since. Bottom line, he is close to finishing his common app. and his advisor who we met with yesterday strongly suggested that in the space where it says to list anything extra you want to share, or add he should speak to his ninth grade year.</p>
<p>Incidentally, for one of his essays for one school, it specifically asked him to talk about an experience which transformed his body and soul, something like that and it was the perfect chance to talk about it. He is wondering if that might be the perfect essay to insert into that blank area on the common app. Its under 500 words and very well written. Any advice or thoughts? She also said he should speak briefly to the fact that there were some personal issues going on within our family and that added extra stress for him.....I am happy to share with you the essay if you want to read it and give me your thoughts...let me know. Thank you! I know I have come to the right place.</p>
<p>Well, what exactly are son's college goals? Does he want Ivy League, top liberal arts college, top private college , state college, community college or smaller private college? And money, what can yo afford? Do you want to provide him with the finest with lots of debt or hope of finanicial aid or someplace you can afford to send him? What are you looking for?</p>
<p>Regardless of where son wants to go I would be very upfront about 9th grade.</p>
<p>Yes, that would be a good place.
He might want to pare the essay down as much as possible without destroying the flow - he wants to supply an explanation, not excuses, and not an additional 495 word essay for the adcom to plow through. In the vein of supplying an explanation, the GC's idea of including info about the stress and family issues is probably a good one, again he probably should work it into the original essay. Brief, though, brief is better.</p>
<p>My son had some medical issues that impacted his 9th grade classes, ECs and grades. We did not go into any details, but disclosed that minimum info. The issues were resolved and it was obvious his grades\courses\ECs soared after the 9th grade. His supplemental info section was very brief. He was accepted to some very good schools. momoffive</p>
<p>backhand....the schools he is most interested in applying to are BU, BU, MIAMI, many more along that line. Fortunately for him his college tuition is paid for so no we are not asking for aid and without meaning to sound obnoxious (its not my money paying) he doesn't have to consider cost in eventually choosing which school he attends. I hope that answers your question. Thanks!</p>
<p>Very few colleges even care about ninth grade, especially if your son's grades have improved since then. I think your son should write about something more interesting that says something about who is NOW, rather than who he was then.</p>
<p>Disclosure: my son got into MIT with terrible 9th-grade grades--even though he applied his junior year and skipped his senior year. LOTS of boys have terrible 9th-grade grades.</p>