<p>My grades freshmen year were mostly A's, but my grades dropped to mostly B's sophmore year because of my grandpa's death (he raised me for 8 years because my parents were unavailable, i will not state why here), and mostly A's junior year, taking 5 Ap, and 2 IB classes. So will colleges understand this? as i have clearly moved passed this tragedy and continued my academics?</p>
<p>Yes, adcoms are human beings.</p>
<p>It would be helpful to write about it somewhere, when the time comes.</p>
<p>I would also talk with your GC or a recommending teacher. It can be helpful to have this confirmed by a third party.</p>
<p>I went back to college in my 30s. During finals week of 1999, my husband died. I went from a 4.0 to barely passing for my last couple classes. At the time I was just happy to graduate and rebuild my life. </p>
<p>In 2007 I wanted to go to grad school, and I had to explain the drop in grades as well. I mentioned it briefly in my essay. However I made sure that my essay was positive and forward looking, not focusing on poor little me. I got in :)</p>
<p>Absolutely!</p>
<p>And as someone suggested, talk with your Guidance Counselor and the teacher(s) who will be writing letters for you. I’m sure they are already aware of the situation and will include it in their letters.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I would hope so and the others give good advice about how to ensure its taken into account. Another thing to consider: would the school that does not take such a tragedy into account even be a good place for you to be a student? Is that really a school you’d want to live at and grow from for four years? Probably not.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your feedbacks!</p>
<p>However, I’ve already applied for ED to Cornell and the letters of recommendations from both my counselor and teachers have been submitted. But I did devote all of my room for “additional information” to this cause. And yes, I did also give a positive outlook in my essay as I have moved passed this and have became stronger as a result.</p>