<p>I have a question for parents. what's the thinking on a parent sending a letter to a school explaining extenuating circumstances. we're talking a B+ student with high boards (1490 old; 2210 new; National Merit Commended; AP Scholar with Distinction; class president Sophomore Year; congressional intern, personally invited by U.S. congress person) should have been A student, but father has been sick for the entire high school career, five hospitalizations in 3 years, twice in life-threatening situations, definate impact on the student's emotional well-being and still managed honor roll every semester. but student doesn't want to "use" that to explain why someone with such high boards has 3 Cs over the course of high school areer. wondering if the parent should write a letter to the adcom? any thoughts?</p>
<p>Parents shouldn't write ANYTHING they aren't asked for. That should be left to the student, with his GC. B+ with relatively high SATs is not particularly unusual, regardless of the situation. And, while framed well, an explanation FROM THE STUDENT might be helpfully revealing to an admissions officer, not well-framed, it could also signify that the student doesn't respond well to adversity.</p>
<p>I think this is something your son can work out with his GC, if he chooses.</p>
<p>Definitely should not be the parent, imo. Could have the opposite effect of what you hope, with the school thinking this is just another of those "helicopter moms," and you don't want to have that effect.</p>
<p>The GC is the correct person for you or your son to strategize with. Conventional wisdom is, I believe, that the GC should write the letter/make the call if there is a time-limited extenuating circumstance which crops up. If it's been ongoing the entire hs career, a special letter may not be appropriate and 3 C's spread over the career may not be well-explained by the situation; you might just call needless attention to them. However, it certainly would be/would have been appropriate for the GC to have mentioned the parental illness as context in the GC recommendation form. If s/he didn't do so and the student doesn't feel it's necessary or wise, he may well be right.</p>
<p>Bottom line, I agree with mini that the student and GC can strategize. If the GC relationship at your hs is such that the parent and GC work together, you could bring it up and follow the GC's advice, unless your son doesn't even want you to chat with the GC about it.</p>
<p>I've benefitted from cc boards for the past 3 years although I lurked more than posted. I have a dear friend whose son refuses to add explanations to his application. The problem is he and GC at prep school had a falling out. He doesn't want mom to get involved AND he doesn't want to anger GC further. He is such a great kid, has the scores, ECs and rigor to attend great school. The battle rages for this GC who must write college rec. What should the mom do? I read his applications and insisted that he re-write all of them. GC, in her anger, allowed him to apply SCEA with the C- essay. I am angered and appalled, but only a friend. Feeling sad for my good friend her DS with the GC from hell.</p>
<p>I told my Ds, that not matter what, be on good terms with their GC, no matter how annoying, cause, they do have power</p>
<p>i don't think 3 c's will ruin his college choices</p>
<p>If he has all the other stuff, it should be fine</p>
<p>Where the C's in one classs, or spread out, and did he pull up the grades after the C's. that is what will be important</p>
<p>We have to give our kids a break, it seems they think a C is a death mark.</p>
<p>But, its not</p>
<p>thank you for responding. this is very helpful. The Cs were in math, and he subsequently has earned Bs (he's an artist, math is not is strong suit. he can do it 690 on Math SAT -- 800 verbal). and has an A in AP Statistics, so far. he does have a great relationship with his GC and so do I, so we could go that route, and see what he says. his teacher recommendations are top notch, too. so maybe there isn't anything to worry about. it just seems way more competitve then when I was going through this, even when my older son was going through it. and he is only 24.</p>
<p>Sent,</p>
<p>You are a good friend for helpig your friend's son to resent his best self. Regarding the rec, ff the student is having a problem with the GC (I am assuming this is the only GC in the school), then school principal / director can write the evaluation for him which the school will also accept).</p>
<p>Based on the info you've added, I'm guessing there's nothing to worry about, mystified. But I know that doesn't necessarily stop us ;). Things are way more competitive, agreed; at least at some schools. But since the GC relationship is strong, I think you can rely on his judgment.</p>
<p>I am sorry to hear that you have been having such a difficult time, mystified.</p>
<p>This information may already be in the GC's report. If not, it could be included as an update when the midyear grades go out. I discussed the inclusion of personal factors such as this (we have elder care issues) with an MIT admissions rep, and she stressed that it was important for there school, at least, to know about the situtation. According, I wrote up a description of the situation and discussed it with the GC. I don't know how much it matters in a particular situation, but I think its better for colleges to know that some of the difficulty is beyond the student's control - rather than video games or some such.</p>
<p>I agree that the school needs to know, and also that the parent should not be the one to write an explanatory letter. It should come from someone at the school, if not the guidance counselor, then someone else at the school.</p>