My daughter is currently a junior. I was very ill much of her freshman and sophomore year (had to go out of state for several months for medical care during her 10th grade year) and as a result her grades suffered. She is not aiming for a top tier school but is a bright girl (scored a 1320 on the PSAT - taking SAT in March). I would hate for the lower GPA to prevent her from getting into any school. She had a UW 3.25 with all honors in her freshman year, but it dropped to a 2.5 in her 10th grade year. She has rebounded this year and has pulled it up to a 3.1 so far and it should continue to go up. She is also legally blind and has had to deal with a lot due to that. Does she disclose this information in the hopes that a school will give her a chance? Thanks for any help.
That is something her guidance counselor should disclose and address in their letter of recommendation. So, be sure the school is aware of the circumstances.
That is a great idea, thank you.
Her guidance counselor should address it as @momofsenior1 notes above - most schools have a senior sheet that students are asked to fill out for the counselor so your daughter should definitely include that info on the senior sheet.
Your daughter also might want to find a way to weave these two things into her common app essay - not in a woe is me way but in a look how I have succeeded despite these obstacles.
She’s not in any kind of IEP or 504 plan for her legal blindness? Disclosing a L/D or disability in general is a personal decision you have to make with her, GC, family, but I would disclose since she’s going to need services of some kind at college. Just be careful she explains it without using it as an excuse (don’t blame, e.g.). Good luck, there are a lot of posters here familiar with this kind of stuff.
It doesn’t belong in the Common App essay. The reason we say the GC should mention it is that’s one educator writing to others. And it gives a chance for the GC to tout the improvement and other great traits, despite the sight issues, etc.
So for a college list, you consider her junior cumulative gpa and the 75th %ile at possible targets. Sounds like it could be roughly a 3.0. If she surges 2nd sem, all the better. There are a cpl of threads here for ‘the B student.’
Make sure you’re looking at affordable colleges. Best to her- and to you.
She does have an IEP but I don’t know that it really gives a picture of what has impacted her the past two years. I think having the guidance counselor provide information on what has happened as well as her strengths might help. I just feel awful that my illness resulted in this.