<p>I am currently a senior applying ED to Duke. I have all A's, but a B in multivariable calculus and a C in Quantum Physics (but almost no one gets above a C in this class realistically, it is the hardest at my school). For reference, I go to one of the nation's top high schools, with very rigorous courses. I am usually an A student, and have only gotten 3 B's before this with one of them being a B+. However, I have extenuating circumstances.</p>
<p>During first quarter, my dad lost his job, my best friend was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, my grandfather was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer, and I was still working at my roughly 25 hour a week UChicago internship remotely...all while juggling school. Obviously, this all had an effect on my grades. Should I send a brief letter of additional information explaining this, or will it just look like I'm making excuses? How much will this hurt my chances?</p>
<p>First, I am confused. You said you have all As but a B and a C – do you mean this first quarter of senior year you have a B and a C and the rest As? Then you mention that before, you have only gotten 2Bs and 1 B+ (so I am guessing that means when you wrote before that you have all As, you were referring to senior year only).</p>
<p>Then you say that during first quarter these terrible things happened (which I agree are tough). But this confuses me – because did these things happen THIS first quarter? So this explains why you have a B and a C? But you have gotten three Bs before… so why is this first quarter (with one B and one C) different from when you got three Bs before? Were the three Bs spread out during the 3 years? Or were they all at one time?</p>
<p>Maybe it is just late and I am too tired. IF… for example, you got one B freshman year, one B sophomore year and one B+ junior year, and now, senior first quarter, you have a B and a C… then yes, you might want to describe what has had happened.</p>
<p>IF this bad first quarter was when the other three Bs happened, I would NOT say anything because the rep may simply ask “then what excuse do you have for this quarter?”</p>
<p>Sorry for the confusion! Yes, the B and the C were first quarter senior year (the rest are A’s), when I faced all these hardships. I have gotten 3 b’s collectively, from freshmen to junior year.</p>
<p>It sounds like you will be just explaining one grade that is an anomaly–a C in a hard class where a C is the score that everyone gets. So I don’t see it that you have grades to explain, the way an A student would have to if they got all C’s one semester due to a personal situation.</p>
<p>But if you feel you were stressed in this situation, you might mention it in the additional information as background for what stresses you had to encounter and thrive in during the semester, not as a grade excuse. Better yet to have your GC put this in his letter.</p>