Advise needed about rescinding ED

mythmom · 03-05-2010, 10:58 PM

My good friend has a daughter who is a recruited athlete who was accepted ED for September at Midd.

All was well until this lovely girl received a disturbing letter from admissions at MIDD.

Her grades are stellar, all A's in an IB program, except for a C+ this quarter in BC calc.

The letter alluded to rescinding of ED acceptance, alluding to this possibility though acknowledging that it is very rare. The letter said the eye of the committee was on her and she should pull the grade up.

It goes without saying that I think this is overly harsh. But that's not why I am writing. I am writing because I would like to assure my friend that this is all hot air and not to worry, but I don't know if this is true at MIDD.

My kids attend(ed) Barnard and Williams and I have no first hand knowledge of MIDD.

Please, anyone with any information or insight, can you advise this family?

Thanks in advance.

Modadunn · 03-06-2010, 08:24 AM

Wow.. I would be surprised if one C would rescind admission, but since it's not your kid you can't really be sure that this C is really the only one - that it's actually a C+ and not a D-. Not saying your friend isn't being honest, but perhaps putting a little more color on the rose than exactly exists.

As for rescinding admission in general... with nearly 8000 applications, it's not like they couldn't fill the spot. On the other hand, and specific to friend's kid: she was recruited athlete who, arguably, the coach was supporting thru the application process.

If it were my kid... I'd have the come to Jesus moment to say, bring up the grade. Second semester seniors are notorious for letting those final grades dip, but it is also my experience and understanding that it's a chicken before the egg thing whereby the teachers (expecting some sort of malaise) often lower their expectations as well, especially as spring approaches and certainly once AP exams have passed (and is why we have senior program where they get the seniors mostly off doing internships etc for the final three weeks of school). The point is.. she should be able to improve her grade to at least a B (especially if it's really a C+).

Along with that, I would also strongly encourage my kid to call the coach and hopefully have some reasons for the grade itself and whatever the plan is going forward to improve it.

Truthfully, I find it a little surprising that the school would even use the resources of paper and mailing if it meant absolutely nothing, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. It's just that a C+ in what would be considered a very advanced Math course (my son only got to AP AB calc in HS) doesn't seem that horrible and is why I question just how honest said friend is being with you.

mythmom · 03-06-2010, 08:49 AM

^^^^Your post makes a lot of sense, and thanks for the reply. I believe my friend is scrupulously honest, which is why she was so shocked at the letter.

I agree. I think a c+ is not a bad grade in such an advanced course.

My S also only took AB and he started with an A and was down to a B- by the very end of the term, though the year grade was somewhere between a B and a B+. He just lost confidence. He's a bit math phobic.

sax · 03-06-2010, 08:58 AM

A Warning: Colleges Can Change Their Minds - The Choice Blog - NYTimes.com

interesting comments on topic from midd

Modadunn · 03-06-2010, 09:48 AM

Exactly my point Sax. One C shouldn't sound the alarm, and so maybe it's just Midd's way of saying, don't let it get out of hand...

Quote:

And they mean it. Each year, colleges rescind offers to students whose grades plummeted after they were admitted. Generally, one stray “C’’ won’t have serious repercussions. But make it a couple of “D’s on a transcript that had been crammed with A’ s and B’s and there may be trouble.

“It’s felt to me like there’s an increasing number of students whose grades go down the tubes senior year, and I want them to know that we do look at their end-of-year transcripts, and we rescind admissions decisions,’’ said Robert Clagett, the dean of admissions at Middlebury College. “Every year that I’ve been here, we’ve rescinded a few decisions in July, and frankly, we’ve seen the problems on the upswing.’’

hohum · 03-06-2010, 10:31 AM

Dang... my son got in ED and I've been encouraging him to lighten up a bit since he's been such a workaholic for three and a half years. Now I feel fortunate that he is not capable of letting his schoolwork slide. I'm surprised Midd admissions has the time to focus on one C+ in the midst of dealing with all the RD apps.

OldbatesieDoc · 03-06-2010, 12:40 PM

Agreed, my S has been psycho and sleepless all Fall, plus with his final winter sport season, he wanted to go to States. It was a difficult end of the term for him. He also took an exam sick, and since the teacher is a stickler, didn't have time to make up before the end of the term. I told him to cut himself some slack but I guess I'll go back to cracking the whip! Hope we don't get one of those, it would really make him a nervous wreck! I can hardly get him to go to bed now!
Honestly, I know some kids let it all go, but I can't imagine it is very many. I also think if the tale is true, that Midd is being rather harsh...

mythmom · 03-06-2010, 01:17 PM

Thank you all for your replies. I know my friend is reading the thread so I am not going to reappear, but keep the thread going if you all have more comments to make. I am sure it is relevant to a few students.

Thanks again.