<p>First semester's grades are in...and let's just say that they won't help D get into either school where she has been deferred. Getting an A in HomeEc doesn't exactly balance a C in math. One of those schools had allegedly been D's first choice. Suddenly another school has become D's first choice. </p>
<p>Last kid going off to college. You would think with all of the pushing, helping, ranting, discussions, worrying, etc. that has been done in our house over college admissions over the last 10 years that the last kid would be smoother. Now that D has a few admissions under her belt, she just isn't working hard or worrying anymore. </p>
<p>This is not a case of grades dropping so far that D risks having any of her admissions decisions withdrawn. It's just a case of a parent being disappointed in D's work ethic. Sigh.</p>
<p>Neon, I feel for you…last year my D had the “first semester slump” and it drove me crazy. It didn’t affect her grades that much but she was given a bit of slack by her teachers who allowed her to “rest on her laurels” a bit. I think that she felt she was working harder than ever but alot of that work was doing college apps, essays, etc. and she was stressed even though she started earlier than many of her friends. It all worked out and maybe it was a good prep for the multi-tasking and stress this year has brought. Now, she looks back at last year and says “What was I thinking? I didn’t know what busy was!”</p>
<p>It’ll work out in the end…she’s not the only one and I’m guessing colleges see alot of this.</p>
<p>Can you blame them? Some of these kids have been slaving away at these honors classes and APs all through high school. Apps are in, they are tired, want to enjoy themselves a little.
My daughter finally did something she’s wanted to do throughout high school but didn’t have time for – tried out for a play. Homework is slipping some, but I am actually really glad she is doing something she enjoys so much!</p>
<p>Both my boys loaded up their courseloads during grades 9-11, so that by 12th grade they only took 5 classes each. They really enjoyed their senior years.</p>
<p>It’s called consequence avoidance. These young people have been driving themselves for YEARS to excell. If they don’t do well, they won’t get into the college they want–or whatever it is that they want. Once they get what they want (acceptance to college of choice), they are done. This happened to my daughter last year. She maintained perfect grades through the end of junior year, applied early (before any senior grades were posted), was accepted by all of her top schools, and threw in the towel. She did not do homework unless it was graded. It was a shock for me to see the change, but she has made the transition to college. </p>
<p>One of my friends used to say this about grades: “I don’t need (fill in your) school to tell me my kid is smart.”</p>