| While I agree with much of Sally's response, I have to disagree with one key point While I also understand how heartbroken the mom is and how much she wants to help her son, I strongly disagree with the suggestion that the parent write ANY kind of appeal letter. The letter absolutely needs to come from the son. He needs to take ownership. She can enourage and help -- but he needs to be the one to do it. If he won't do it, she shouldn't. Admissions officers want to hear the student's voice. All things being relatively equal, choosing between an appeal from a student and an appeal from a parent would be easy for an admissions officer.
I know a counselor who talks about the "God of senior year" who somehow makes sure that kids end up in the right place. There are lots of "right" places.
My daughter's first choice -- by miles -- was Occidental. She was rejected, and devastated even though she had lots of options. She ended up going to Whitman, and she LOVES it. She cannot imagine being anywhere else. |