<p>X-posted from college admissions; I didn't get much of a response there, and was hoping that some parents would be willing to chime in over here.</p>
<p>So here's the deal. I'm a rising senior and I've taken the hardest courseload possible given certain constraints (i.e. scheduling conflicts). My SAT scores are pretty good (1570/1600, 2280/2400), my SAT IIs are decent (780, 750, 740), and based on past years, I should be a National Merit semi-finalist. </p>
<p>The only problem is my transcript. I've got a 3.65 unweighted from a good private high school, which will go down to a 3.61 or so after this semester. It's this low mostly because of my junior year grades. This year has been kind of rough on a personal level, as I was dealing with the whole coming out deal. I managed to get back on track towards the end of a year, you know, finding a gay teacher to talk to to help me figure things out, starting a GSA and generally feeling better about the whole deal, but my grades were already shot for the year.</p>
<p>I know the junior year is the most important year and that this dip will hurt me quite a bit. I know it's not really an excuse and that it is my fault for not focusing, but honestly, being the only out person at a Christian high school kind of blows, a LOT.</p>
<p>Anyway, how can I address this so admissions people will understand what was going on and demonstrate that I have the potential to do well?</p>
<p>Any and all advice muchly appreciated! Esp. stories from parents of kids who have maybe gone through something like this.</p>
<p>You have great scores, and the dip shouldn't hurt you too much. Talk to your GC and see if he/she can address the issue in your recommendation. Make sure you have some safeties that you would like to attend on your list, in addition to reaches/matches. If you have some tough schools on your list (HYPS, top 25 etc.) you should not apply ED. You need to be able to show strong senior fall semester grades. Good luck - you will do well! :)</p>
<p>I'm glad you are feeling better about yourself. Would the gay teacher be able to write a rec for you? Surely that teacher will be able to put your struggles into context and write a very supportive rec? As anxiousmom says, the dip may not hurt too much. Make sure you bring your grades back up in the senior year. The first quarter and first semester grades will count for a lot.</p>
<p>Ummm,, the scores, grades and transcript is fine</p>
<p>This site is a bit lopsided when it comes to expectations</p>
<p>a 3.61 is not a horrible gpa by any means, which on THIS site, oh gosh, how horrid...weighted, its probablly closer to a 3.8 or something</p>
<p>Why do kids expect to be perfect and why do some parents say, well, gosh. a .04 skip, egad</p>
<p>If you think a .04 is a big dip, please slow down, catch your breadth and get away from this site, it will only make you more nervous and a bit paranoid</p>
<p>Could not agree more with cgm. When, oh when, will reach the stage when people stop labeling SAT IIs of 740-780 as "decent" in a damning with faint praise tone. Those are great scores! </p>
<p>You have accomplished a lot, lingsquared, with what you have done for yourself and how you have succeeded academically during a stressful time.</p>
<p>What is the weighted GPA here? It could well be quite a bit higher than 3.8. lingsquared, What is the highest unweighted/weighted GPA at your school? Does the "dip" really even need an explanation? I'd like to hear how low that jr year GPA was before you assume you have a problem to apologize for.</p>
<p>Thank you for the responses. My counselor is a very awesome lady, and I will definitely ask her to clarify about the grade dip. Question: the gay teacher isn't an academic teacher (fine arts), so is it still okay to ask her for a rec or letter of explanation? </p>
<p>I'm just not quite sure how to approach this. Obviously, it IS my fault for not focusing and buckling down, and I should take responsibility for that. But at the same time, stuff was definitely going on. So yeah...any insights on that front would be v helpful. </p>
<p>Btw, to clarify about the dip, it was a .3 dip from a 3.7-3.8 my other years to a 3.4-3.5 this year, which dragged everything down. My school doesn't weight or rank.</p>
<p>And I do in fact loooove my safety (U of Washingon; Seattle is such a great city!), so no worries on that front :)</p>
<p>It's great that you have a safety you love. This takes off an enormous pressure. </p>
<p>An alternative to the fine arts teacher writing a rec would be for her to write up something that the GC can incorporate into her rec.</p>
<p>You could consider writing your essay about what it is like to be gay in a Catholic school. Not to be whining, but to give a sense the context in which you decided to come out. Writing about launching the GSA would be good.</p>