<p>Where on the common app can I explain bad grades - well, not bad, but it breaks the trend on my transcript. I received a B 1st sem in English 2 Pre-AP and a B first sem in AP English Lang, but only because of solid reasons. The first one is because of a summer reading test, but I didn't get the summer reading assignment on time because I had to enroll in regular English freshman year due to moving late. The second B is because two essays that were due near the end of the semester, and when I went to view the articles online to analyze them, our internet service shut off because of the inability to pay the bill. I didn't get to finish them, and since essays were a big part of the grade, you know.</p>
<p>DON’T do it in the main essay, it is a waste. Save it for an appropriate supplement, or ask your guidance counselor to mention it in their recommendation. </p>
<p>Honestly though those sound like two lame excuses -_-
I don’t think anyone would care.</p>
<p>What are good reasons for bad grades then?</p>
<p>Being in the hospital for a month and not being able to catch up on schoolwork, family issues at home, etc.</p>
<p>Well, I was sorta pressured by my parents to take hard courses, then got a lot of B’s, 2 C’s, and a D (C’s and D were in math. I’m a sophomore, so I have time, but my highest gpa would be a 3.57. But I have some exceptional EC’s.</p>
<p>I will begin playing sports junior year after surgery for a hernia. I might be a wrestling/fencing/hockey recruit. So yeah I’m bringing stuff to the table when I apply.</p>
<p>In the additional info section. And be concise.</p>
<p>
Agree 100% here. What sound like “solid explanations” to most people are seen as weak excuses by most adults. It is hard for HS kids to see this. </p>
<p>Let me take one of these “solid reasons” – not to rake the OP over the coals, but to illustrate another viewpoint. Didn’t finish an assignment because couldn’t read articles online at the end of the semester. I’d wonder A) how early did you know about the assignment, and did you wait until near it was due to read the articles? B) why didn’t you go to a friends house to read them? C) why didn’t you go to the library or any other place with free internet access? D) why didn’t you go to the teacher to get access? </p>
<p>There is a way to give credible excuses, whether you’re a person or a multinational corporation. The formula is roughly “its our fault that we messed up, we’re sorry, here’s why it won’t happen again” None of which I see from the OP.</p>
<p>I agree… don’t explain if those are your explanations because, in all honesty, if you’d taken some more responsibility, you could have avoided both of the issues. Explanations in this case are for someone who lost a parent or relative, had a long hospital stay, etc. Besides, it doesn’t seem like the grades are poor enough to merit an explanation anyway. Just keep the rest of your grades up, as for those classes, the ship has sailed.</p>
<p>I agree with above. First, you are describing why you got B’s. Unless you were seriously ill, death in family, etc. what you describe is very minimal. If these are your only two B’s, they should not sink you.</p>
<p>In fact, if you include something like your explanatioin on your common app, I think you attract very negative attention to these grades. I will explain how I might interpret your comments:</p>
<p>1st I wonder why this applicant did not take the time to figure out what the requirements were for this exam. If he was switching tracks from regular to preAP, he really should have been responsible enough to find out this information.</p>
<p>2nd Could the applicant not find internet access at school or at a library?? How long had he put this assignment off to put himself into this situation???</p>
<p>Now, this may not at all reflect the actual situations, but if you comment on this I think you are drawing attention to something negative without any upside.</p>
<p>Don’t do it!!!</p>
<p>Alright guys, haha. I know 100% they were my fault, so I won’t say anything about them . English is my weak subject in general because my CR is 600 anyway. Thanks for those lovely responses, truth hurts.</p>