<p>My senior grades PLUMMETED. I took AP classes for the first time, and all 3 of them were considered the toughest in the school. I was just so stressed out with exams, SATs, SAT II's, and applications, that I did horrible on my finals and got like a 2.9. I got an F in one of my AP's. Several C's. My cumulative GPA was a 3.18. I had 2.5 frosh year, 3.55 soph year, 3.75 jun year, and now this. How can I explain this in my personal statement? I know that I can get all A's next semester.. can you guys tell me how I would go about explaining this? PLEASE</p>
<p>I also forgot to mention I'm applying to mostly state schools such as OSU, Mizzou, Indiana, etc. Also Purdue.. so am I screwed now?</p>
<p>Every year, seniors around the world are applying for colleges and universities, along with dealing with SATs I, etc. I think you shouldn't have taken the AP classes, if you couldn't have handled it. Balancing all of them is the key, especially since your mid-year reports will be sent to the colleges you are applying to. The colleges might think that you slacked off. </p>
<p>Honestly, I don't know how you can explain it.</p>
<p>just tell them what happened, and how youre going to rectify the situation</p>
<p>Well how would I go about telling them.. it seems like I'd have to whine my way through.. I don't want to say I can't handle the courseload because I'm sure I will do a lot better the second semester..</p>
<p>Could I possible say something along the lines of:
I realize that my first semester grades were below average, but this does not reflect my true potential. I was not prepared to handle the courseload along with applications and standardized tests, which I had not anticipated spending so much time on. This was my first experience with AP classes; I chose the toughest science and english, but I did not anticipate so many outside factors hindering my performance. The second semester will truly reflect how well prepared for college I am; baseing my fate on this one semester is inaccurate. </p>
<p>Something like that? I tried not to make it sound whiny..</p>
<p>Maybe try to ask you guidance Counseler to just send your Juinor Scores. Maybe the school's won't notice. </p>
<p>I'm close to getting an F as well in Honors Calculus,, but I was already accepted in Penn State. IFF I can't bring it back up I am still pretty sure that they won't rescind my acceptance. Good Luck getting into those colleges, if your SAT or ACT are good then they may make up for it. But still try to ask for just your grades up to your Juinor year sent.</p>
<p>I actually heard from one of my teachers that if your grades are going down, you should send in some kind of note/letter explaining what is happening and has happened. Then, they would tell you what can be done... I think it's a good idea for you to send in a letter like that.</p>
<p>they appreciate your honesty you know.. rather than keeping it quiet.</p>
<p>Well it's too late for that now since I'm on break.. is there a such thing as academic probation though? Like I could ask to get accepted only if I get such and such grades? And how about the personal statement above.. I just KNOW I can get A's in all those classes, I was seriously just overwhelmed.</p>
<p>Well yea I haven't sent in those apps because of this, this is my personal statement.</p>
<p>Write an extra letter/note. don't use it as your personal statement.</p>
<p>Oh.. well how would I go about doing that? I don't understand how I could send it separately and know wether they recieved it or not.</p>
<p>I have a similar problem.</p>
<p>How do I write this note and where do I send it?</p>
<p>Well my concern is...how do you KNOW you can get A's next semester? It's easy to say that, determination is one thing now, during break. But at 2:00 in the morning in the middle of February when you have an essay due in five hours and three tests to study and you've slept for 10 hours in the last 3 days it's often something else entirely. </p>
<p>Sorry to be harsh. If I were an admissions officer I probably wouldn't look too kindly on "Well, I bet I can do better - take my word for it." "I can't manage my time as well as I had hoped I could" isn't really in the same league as "My mother died and I'm working four jobs to feed my seven younger siblings" as far as reasons for drops in GPA go. Don't give up, though! All is definitely not lost. I'm not too familiar with the schools you mentioned.</p>
<p>To get them the note:
Write a letter and put it in an envelope addressed to the admissions office. Stamp, mail. If you're really concerned about them receiving it, stick a stamped postcard addressed to yourself in the envelope as well and as them to mail it back when they receive it.
Make sure the note has your name, SSN, etc on it so it can get matched with the rest of your file.</p>
<p>Alternatively, the "extra information" box on the common app (or any application should have one of these) if you haven't submitted it already.</p>
<p>I've tried not to sound cocky or whiny because I know it is still my fault for the grades, but I'm just saying that I haven't done that bad since freshman year, and it clearly isn't an indicator of how smart I really am. The classes were not difficult, it was just that I did not have enough time to balance everything out.. I know for fact that I can do better next semester because all this weight will be off my shoulders.. that's really the only reason I did bad, and that should be a good enough indicator that I will do better next semester. yes/no?</p>
<p>Thanks alot sheetmusic, my application still isnt it.</p>
<p>Just add it in there then. Good luck! :-)</p>
<p>Crazy Indian - maybe you don't feel it's a good indicator, but it's one of the only indicators they have. It doesn't matter now though, you don't have any other options. Just give it a shot and see where it goes.</p>
<p>Stop making excuses for poor grades and study harder. Do not promise to get all As next semester; I doubt you will. Own up to your mistakes, and work on changing that around. Being overwhelmed with school is not a reason to do poorly (although doing poorly will probably make you overwhelmed). Get a tutor and start studying.</p>
<p>corranged - I'm not trying to make excuses. Seriously. Did you even read? I said I'm trying not to whine, and I know it's my fault for getting bad grades. I'm trying to tell colleges that that semester doesn't represent my true intelligence, and that it was generally a bad time of year for me. I said I would do better; I know that I'm capable of getting the A's, and who the **** are you to doubt me? Don't post **** in people's topics who you don't even know, and **** that doesn't even help, ok? And just to clarify, I didn't promise anything. I said I knew I could do it, alright?</p>
<p>You kind of screwed yourself over. That sucks man.</p>
<p>Maybe I'm an optimist. Yeah, colleges want you not to falter during your senior year, but hey you took a chance by taking reach courses (which you didn't have to do) and you didn't anticipate the weight of the workload and you didn't anticipate the impact that the college application process would have on top of that. Not good. But, you learned your lesson. Often times, that happens to kids when they start college. Depending on how you write your letter, you can actually say that this painful experience has actually better prepared your for your Freshman year. However, to back up your words, like other posters have noted, work like crazy and get a tutor and a course coach if needed to nail it from this point on. No messing around...the grades have to go up. You're entitled to make mistakes. You just have to humbly admit to them, learn from them, and improve. Just don't come across as whining or making excuses. Convey that you were simply overly ambitious, overly eager and maybe a little naive...and from now on be aware that in your Freshman year you'll need to be a bit more thoughtful (and use your advisor to advantage) when you plan your course load and selection. Start slowly until you know that you can shoulder the load before adding too much. I say be honest and humble, that shows character and maturity. Colleges like that. Good luck.</p>