<p>My son is applying to USC engineering. For the Common App essay, he wrote a great essay about a "C" grade he received his Junior year in his Calculus class, how this "failure" (in his eyes) changed him and what he learned from this experience. Do you think he should not put the spotlight on this grade or is it a good idea to thoroughly explain the grade?</p>
<p>There’s probably an additional section on the common app where you explain things like iffy grades. </p>
<p>IMO, I wouldn’t use it as the subject for the main essay, but that’s just me. I suppose it could work.</p>
<p>He should NOT focus on, mention, or write about the C but write ONLY about things that reflect positively on his education. Writing about a C suggests immaturity. Analogous query: would you write about being fired on a job application (unless specifically asked about it)?</p>
<p>AsleepAtTheWheel: Thank you for the private message! I don’t have the 15 or more posts, so I’m not allowed to private message you.</p>
<p>This stuff just drives me crazy - can I say that? I’m a college recruiter for another competitive college (our admissions percentage is lower than USC’s - sub 10%). And I just got off the phone with parents who called to set up their child’s appointments (an automatic red flag) and told me that they were vetoing one of her essay responses.</p>
<p>Here’s the deal. USC and other competitive colleges are NOT looking for automatons. They’re looking for passionate but sometimes flawed students who understand life in a broader context. Which is why USC’s stats show “middle” and “average” scores and grades. Because sometimes the brightest kids with the most potential are not “perfect” on paper.</p>
<p>** And certainly they are going to see ALL of the high school grades on the transcript dating back to 9th grade. So why would you block that essay?**</p>
<p>At a university that is getting north of 43,000 applications and rejecting most of them (thus looking for reasons to pull one out of the pile) wouldn’t you WANT to be able to preempt that by explaining how the less than stellar performance shaped you? If anything it would flag your student’s application at our school as someone who has a mature outlook.</p>
<p>Parents - GET OUT of the application process. Gentle coaching on deadlines always appreciated. Intervening and interfering and second guessing - not so much. You would be surprised at what might draw the attention of the people reading an application. But I see too many students rejected from our college because some adult, with no knowledge of the process, turned their otherwise interesting student into a ubiquitous applicant - one of many thousands of “great stat students” indistinguishable in the pile.</p>
<p>Just my opinion after decades of doing this. It’s the students who reflect on a challenge and it shaped them that tend to do better than those who have never fallen down and picked themselves up. The ones who write essays that are essentially “here’s all the ways I’m great.” tend to be the most disappointed in March.</p>
<p>Which is why - in interviews - we ask those very questions. To get the measure of the student. So again - parents - stop second guessing this. Chances are you will guess wrong about what colleges are looking for (or the individual Admissions readers) and this is your CHILD’s future on the line, not yours. Let them be memorable, not homogeneous.</p>
<p>^Very interesting viewpoint. I will take that into consideration when I write my essay.</p>
<p>Thank you, ArtsandLetters! This is the type of insight and wisdom I was hoping for. I am forwarding this to my son to read.</p>
<p>No problem. 
And sorry if it sounded “sharp” - I just reread it and realized it’s hard to hear a tone on a discussion board. I’m also a parent and I know what effort it takes to sit on one’s hands even when you think you “know” the answer - lol!</p>
<p>There are some colleges across the country that really emphasize numbers and stats. But for “must have” colleges like USC that have an embarrassment of riches in the pile - what will stand out is passion - whatever it is - and a glimpse of what drives a student to get up in the morning without adult intervention. That’s why you’ll see students with less than stellar stats being admitted over students with perfect ones. Because something about their passion spoke to and resonated with the people who are reading and scoring the applications.</p>
<p>One hint though - if a student is going to “choose” to talk about a weakness - don’t be ubiquitous in the response. Remember when the suggested response to “what is your greatest weakness” in a job interview used to be “I work too hard,” or “I care too deeply,” etc. and then it became cliche as word got out?</p>
<p>Share a real - and honest - epiphany. I’ve been talking to other college Adcoms and the trend seems to be that they are more attracted to students who are flexible and passionate about learning. Those not afraid to make a mistake or fail. They’re least interested in the kids who come in thinking they “know it all” or have done it all.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Is ArtsandLetters saying that the student should write about the C in the Common App essay? I think s/he is wrong about that.</p>
<p>I say save the c-confessional for the interview…write something more interesting.</p>
<p>The school is going to see the “C” in Calculus regardless. It’s in the grade point average and on the transcript. You can’t hide it the way you can hide being fired. So I’m not sure what there is to gain by avoiding the issue and hoping they won’t notice. In cases where there are thousands of applicants for only a few spots - that “C” might be an easy way for the application to be discarded. </p>
<p>So what does the student have to lose if they are able to convey real growth from that experience? She said he wrote a “great” essay. </p>
<p>And how is writing about growth from a negative outcome not “positive.”</p>
<p>Here’s the deal - the student will have to make his own judgement on this. Now he has several opinions from which to choose a solution to the question.</p>
<p>The problem with this scenario is - no matter what solution he chooses - is that so many good students are being turned down (because the volume of applications is mushrooming at colleges across the country - partially due to the common app) that students will now begin second guessing if their essay (or grade) was the deciding factor.</p>
<p>So - for the record - I’ve met students at USC who have entered as Freshman without spotless resumes and perfect grades and the school seemed to love them and they’re progressing just fine. Worrying about a D or and F? Sure. Worrying about a single “C” - it’s not really that critical unless the student is trying for a math-heavy degree program.</p>
<p>Also, USC is smart enough to know the difference between an “A” from a school with a less than rigorous curriculum and a “C” from a school that is academically tough.</p>
<p>Best of luck to the student - no matter what they choose.</p>
<p>The USC app has a section where the student can address other issues. Maybe that is the place to address it. Just a thought…</p>