UC essay - How do I explain a 3.8 - 3.0 drop?

<p>My sophomore year semester graes are: 3.8 / 3.0 [First Sem / Second Sem.]
My junior year semester grades are: 3.1 / 3.8 [First Sem / Second Sem.]</p>

<p>The thing is, for the life of me, I can't think of a legit reason for the drop in between.</p>

<p>However, it is such a HUGE drop, that I think it should really be addressed in the third prompt of my essay.</p>

<p>How would I go by doing this without seeming like I am "whining" or that I just slacked off.</p>

<p>I want to impress the adcomms so badly, but I don't know if it would be possible to expalin this.</p>

<p>Should I just write about something else? Like working for my dad or something...</p>

<p>Well that happened to me too and I was going to explain about how I was having a really tough year (not school wise).</p>

<p>Does that work? What do you mean by "tough year."</p>

<p>Should I just write about something else?</p>

<p>Anyone??? Bump.</p>

<p>Many of the UCs receive 30,000 applications a year. If your UC gpa (use their formula), doesn't make the cut off explaining something in an essay probably won't make a difference. First calc your UC gpa and see where you stand.
Also, if you can't think of a legit reason for the grade drop it is going to be pretty hard to explain it in an essay and come off sounding realistic..</p>

<p>Yes I'm elligble. That IS my UC Gpa.</p>

<p>I can't really think of a legit reason for the grade drop. Any advice?</p>

<p>Bumpp Bumpp..</p>

<p>BUMp. HELP PLZ.</p>

<p>first of all...that's a pretty big drop. Secondly, you had a summer between sophomore year and junior year, so i don't think that the uc's will have any sympathy for that. Maybe you should focus on your good things, like maybe extracurriculars</p>

<p>definetely explain it!</p>

<p>I don't know HOW to explain it. Nothing big or dramatic happened... nothing at all. Maybe a little depression? I don't know. ANy ideas?</p>

<p>what is a 3.0 numerically like on a 100 point scale</p>

<p>I don't know... but it's the bare minimum REQUIRED to even apply to UC. 4.0 is the highest. I droppe from 3.8-3.0</p>