Writing to explain lower grades?

Parents Forum
1

<p>Hi, this might not fit here, but I figured that parents would have the better insight into this than students (and may have gone through it before). My grades for first semester senior year were lower than they have been in the past. There isn't really a good explanation, just laziness. I was wondering if you thought it would be beneficial to write a letter to my colleges clarifying that it won't happen again and I realize I didn't do well, or if it would hurt or make no impact.</p>

<p>Also, did you go through senioritis with your (now college) students? How did you handle it? Thanks</p>

2

<p>If you don’t have a good explanation (and you don’t) there’s really no point in this sort of letter. The time to have senioritis is second semester - unless of course you end up on waitlists. You shot yourself in the foot. Sorry.</p>

3

<p>Alright, thanks. They didn’t go too much lower, but I guess I’ll just have to wait and see what happens. Thanks again</p>

4

<p>The only thing such a letter would do in your case, is draw attention to the low grades.</p>

5

<p>^^^ . That about sums it up.</p>

6

<p>If they want an explanation they will call your GC or you. As others have said you do not want to draw attention to the lower marks.</p>

7

<p>Unfortunately my daughter is also facing low grades second quarter of senior year. She is typically a conscientious student with a fairly high GPA overall, but medical issues the past few months have really gotten in the way of her focusing on school. In this case, would it be advisable to send a letter explaining the circumstances? Or would it just sound like excuses? </p>

<p>She is quite bummed that she’s worked so hard for the past 3+ years only to have her midyear grades make such a negative impact. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.</p>

8

<p>ODad - I would ask her GC to touch base with the schools. If the GC can’t/won’t and you think it might effect her admission, then go ahead and write the letter, or call the admissions rep for your area and ask them to make a note of it.</p>

9

<p>Medical issues are fine. If you can get GC to write about it, there’s no danger to it sounding like whining.</p>

10

<p>You might catch a break if you wrote a really funny, charming and wry line or two about having to learn the hard way about the cost of slacking but now that has been done you are keen not to ever do that again. </p>

<p>A lot depends on the caliber of school you are targeting. Always good to have a really good back up plan in place . . .</p>

11

<p>If the college were going to take you anyway, they might hold up your acceptance to see what your next semester’s grades are. Telling someone that “it won’t happen again” isn’t as effective as showing them that it didn’t happen again. They may want to wait until they see the proof.</p>

<p>Why kids suddenly go “lazy” just when the end of the road is in sight mystifies me…but it happens often enough.</p>

12

<p>I agree the if there are medical issues, your GC might be willing to write about them (ours did about my S, as it caused him to miss about 1/2 senior year). I think my kids also touched on their medical issues in their essays, but since I never saw them, I’m not positive. It is fair to mention medical issues, especially if they’ve resolved and the GC can indicate that (to allay any fears of the U that student might be medically fragile).</p>