<p>in the additional info for the common app if i included a reason to why i did poorly (my grandfather's death and financial problems) would it hurt my chances? i don't want them to sympathesize with me but understand the reason for my poor standardized test grades. additionally if i send them a letter indicating how Cornell's always been my dream school and such..would that bore them..? i really want them to know i have a genuine interest rather than just the name brand.</p>
<p>you should tell your counselor to include this in his/her recommendation for the secondary school report, IMO. try to include your passion for cornell in your supplement essay as well</p>
<p>Last year my best friend did very poorly on his SAT IIs because he spent over a week at his dying grandmother’s bedside rather than studying, and he included some sort of explanation (although I’m not sure where/how). It’s usually a good idea to explain poor grades if they’re due to circumstances like that and not just laziness, etc.</p>