Mid-year grades slipped...what should I do?

Applying to College
1

<p>So my grades weren't the greatest this semester. But it is not senioritis..I doubled my work hours and found it hard to adjust to trying to balance work, school, EC's, driving my sister around, etc.
I got 3 B's and 3 A's this semester, the most B's I've ever gotten in a single semester, and only 3 AP's.
I am doing much better this semester and will probably pull off straight A's. However, colleges obviously won't see this until it's too late.</p>

<p>Should I send a letter explaining the GPA drop or would that bring unwanted attention to it?
Prior to this semester I had around a 3.8 UW and was/am on the lower end of the top 10% of my class at a public high school.
I am applying to Brown, Stanford, Harvard, and USC. I also applied to UC's but I'm not sending them anything because they don't see senior grades until after decisions are made.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>bumping</p>

<p>Also if I had achievements that I left off of my original application, is it too late to mention them now within the update/explanation?</p>

3

<p>What exactly would the letter say? Call attention to your time management issues? How do you think that could help?</p>

4

<p>Actually I'm probably leaning towards not sending in the letter...but I was just frustrated because I had to work so much more this semester to earn money to pay for college application fees as I was already barely making enough to cover gas/insurance. I had to drop a couple of colleges off my list because I just couldn't afford to apply.</p>

<p>I live in an area where most but not all kids have their parents cover all of their expenses all the time, so I felt I was at a disadvantage--but hey, life isn't fair so I'm not going to complain.
Thanks anyway.</p>

5

<p>Many kids post this exact same question.</p>

<p>The issue seems to be that many work hard, apply to top colleges and then blow it by letting grades drop first term senior year and think they might be able to explain it away. I worked in admissions many years ago and remember these letters. Unless a hurricane or earthquake displaced you or a similar disaster happened in your life, what can you say that any adcom will buy?</p>

<p>Wouldn't it have been better to apply to fewer colleges and maintain the grades and heavy duty classes so you could actually get into one of the few?</p>

6

<p>Well, working wasn't really something I chose to do; it was more of a necessity.
But I suppose I'll look into transfer options (mostly for Brown).</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice.</p>