<p>i volunteer at a tutoring service for some kids- not really underprivelaged they are from my school.. and this one person i know was actually depressed and her grades suffered a lot and her gpa for 9th and 10th grade was something like 3.10 and then in her junior year she shot up to 3.9 and has all As and my school is very tough and competitive, and in june she will also win awards from departments for her acheievments... i wanted to know if top schools will consider this for her because now i am helping her with her college search.</p>
<p>Were there specific circumstances that drove her into depression? Because I'm pretty sure most teenagers experience depression at some point.</p>
<p>she didnt tell me exactly.. doesnt like talking about it much.. but i heard that she was severely bullied by other girls in her grade</p>
<p>I don't think that is a good reason for her grades going down. Teens are always depressed, especially with the stress of school (at my school at least). Even if she was diagnosed, I really doubt that the college will buy it, if you're looking at the Ivies.</p>
<p>Yeah. there are plenty of qualified people who weren't depressed. People can't keep making exceptions all the time.</p>
<p>That would not be a very good excuse, as teenage depression and bullying is quite common. A personal essay about how she overcame that (as well as a sidenote to how her grades suffered) would be effective. Of course, I'm assuming that it is just common bullying with no violence, sexual harassment, etc. involved.</p>
<p>thanks for the comments.. ill talk to her.. but i dont think i can pass a judgement on the emotional impact it had on her.. i will ask her to not only look at certain well known schools.. but other schools too.. never knew schools were so insensitive to teenage depression</p>
<p>its not insensitivity. schools only have room for a certain number of applicants. if a bunch of applicants have GPAs of 3.95 and another applicant has a 3.5 and has dealt with depression, colleges shouldn't have to cater to that. the fact remains that the 3.95 applicant is better qualified. leniency can't be given all the time.</p>
<p>I disagree with most of that has been said. Colleges will usually be sensitive to issues like this if it can be proven through medical records. If she took medications or visited a doctor/psychiatrist then her college counselor at school should let the college know... especially if she has improved since then and overcome her problems. If she even takes the time to call the College and let them know everything, maybe even talk to the dean of admissions directly they will be more than happy that she has approached them to clarify the situation and will consider her as a more serious candidate.</p>
<p>I disagree with you. While emotional problems might make an admissions officer look more sympathetically on a applicant, I doubt they would pick them over someone with higher GPA/Grades/record. This is not to say that she can't go to good schools, just that Ivies are probably out unless she has some sort of good hook and a really good junior year (with AP/awards/etc), which you said she has...whether it will be enough to overcome the bad grades no one can know.</p>
<p>i think admission of IVY will look at her talent over prospetive over other things...i mean, future is the thing that matters right....</p>
<p>she did definately see a therapist and she is working very hard this year.. she is a very good dancer, represented her country in the international fair- this yr, and she is thinking of starting an international newspaper for the school.. she is very talented and smart.. i wonder if there are any othet students like her.. just a question.. do schools like an upward trend? even ivies</p>
<p>Yes, upward trends are very good things.</p>
<p>student2006,
this is a tough question, and you might want to post on Parents Forum about it. The place for personal factors to be mentioned is in the GC rec - then the student doesn't come off as whiney. However, depression and eating disorders may worry some adcoms. </p>
<p>My son's grades were depressed in his sophomore year due to elder care issues. The GC brought his up in her rec, and my son mentioned it briefly. He was waitlisted at Bowdoin and Carleton - I don't know if he would have been accepted if his grades were better. He was accepted at UChicago, and at Brandeis with a good merit award - I think these schools were willing to cut him some slack with the grades. They are also less selective than the two LAC's. </p>
<p>I think that as you help you student with her list you should make sure she's got some sure bets amongst the top schools. Nothing wrong with reaches - as long as you've got safeties of match!</p>
<p>agree w/ ohio_mom</p>
<p>student2006: the girl you describe sounds almost exactly like me. My grades were not very good in 9th and 10th grades, and although I got As in 11th grade, I didn't take many AP or honors courses until 12th grade. I didn't bother applying anywhere ed because I needed to show the As I was getting in honors and AP classes 1st semester this year.</p>
<p>Anyway, I got rejected at Wellesley, waitlisted at Hamilton, but I got into both Mount Holyoke and Smith, and I actually was offered some merit$ from U of Rochester. So I'm going to Mount Holyoke this fall, and overall I'm pretty happy.</p>
<p>"I don't think that is a good reason for her grades going down. Teens are always depressed, especially with the stress of school (at my school at least)."</p>
<p>Don't drag depression down to the level of teenage drama. There's a difference, teens aren't "always depressed."</p>
<p>i agree... i think she was clinically depressed not just going throigh a stressful phase.. ill ask her to tell her dean and ask her to put that in the cons. recommendation</p>
<p>Student2006,
Her dean should know how to best handle this - the main thing that he needs to know is that she will likely be applying to some schools where her grades need a bit of explanation. If he makes a note about it in her folder he will remember to include it. </p>
<p>Once you have a preliminary list, maybe all of you and your student can meet with the dean and get the benefit of his knowledge and suggestions. The more buy in you have with the whole applications 'team' the better.</p>
<p>pure_din's results reflect my son's - the grades issue probably hurts a lot at the tippy-top of the selectivity heap (and note, selectivity is not the same as quality or fit!!!) - but does not preclude very excellent results. Smith and Holyoke are wonderful schools, and U of R doesn't just throw merit money at everyone.</p>
<p>Like I know she is your friend and all, and you'll think I'm callous, but I'm still sticking with my original opinion. You can't use illness as an excuse just to get it in, you just can't. I mean there is alot of stuff in my life I can't just put on an application, like having to go to my bus stop at 6 o' clock, just to pick me up to go school. (Not meant to be comcial) "Oh, I have cancer, Harvard (as an example), accept me for all my inadequate grades." That is the point of the SAT score--- to assist colleges to see if problems like this should occur. Even if she has a top score, it might not be enough...there are students with disabilities who overcome them quicker, while maintaining a superb GPA and SAT marks. Good luck to your friend though.</p>