Can I Write About Getting Kicked Out?

Applying to College
41

Yes the D stays in the calc if OP takes a different course.

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42

Taking a community college course would cover the English requirement but it will not replace the D received in the AP English course on the transcript. Also the UCā€™s require you to report the original and repeat grades in the UC application.

Another alternate is your ACT score. If it is high enough, then your score can meet the 4 year requirement but the D will remain on your record and part of the GPA calculation.

ACT English Language Arts (ELA)

Score of 24 meets the first three years; score of 30 meets the entire four-year requirement.

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43

Thank you so much for the information. Iā€™ll do the community college course and hope that the grades wonā€™t impact me too much, since I donā€™t have an ACT.

44

I am sorry, I thought you had an ACT score. If you have an SAT score then that can be used also:

SAT Writing and Language Test
Score of 31 meets the first three years; score of 36 meets the entire four-year requirement.

45

Thatā€™s good to know. If my SAT is high enough can I not do the extra course?

46

Do you have cost issues ? Pitt is not cheap. I donā€™t see cost mentioned in your chance me.

47

Did you take the AP English exam? If so this is also another option:

AP or IB Examination

Score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP English Language and Composition or English Literature and Composition exam; score of 5, 6 or 7 on the IB HL English: Literature exam (formerly IB HL English A1)

Regardless of what you decide, the D will still be calculated into your UC GPAā€™s.

48

OP can clarify, but this is what was on their chances thread:

13 AP Classes, 5s on all so far (Chinese, APUSH, 2D Art, Calc AB, World, Lit, Chem)

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49

Yes I did get a 5 on the test. The only reason why I had a D was because I missed a lot of assignments due to mental health problems as a result of my family situation.

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50

So you have several options to fulfill the requirement and even taking a college course at this point will not replace the D grade in the UC GPA calculation. You are still a strong applicant and you will meet the English requirement which is much more important since the application deadline is December 2.

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51

Thank you so much!

52

Cost is not an issue because my family stuff is now resolved

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53

@piggywiggy3 not only did you go through the trauma of moving around after being kicked out, you went through the trauma of your parents rejecting who you are. It sounds to me as if you did not get proper accommodations. I know kids suffering from depression who get accommodated at school with extra time, extensions and so on. This was an extreme situation. I would most certainly write about it if the GC is not covering it adequately. I am PMā€™ing you because I have some experience in this area that is private.

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54

Have your counselor add it in their section. Itā€™s just an excuse. You want to use that section for positive change, which this is but also adds doubt.

55

I think itā€™s fair game to blame your homelessness on your grades. Of course they were impacted.

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56

Homelessness due to parental rejection of gender identity is major trauma and not an ā€œexcuse.ā€ This student should have been supported and accommodated.

I fear that the GC may not be supportive in this context but if they are, they could handle it. I also think it is fine and very justifiable for the student to write about it anywhere they like.

I assume the GC would need a student release or written permission to get into details so if they have not asked for that, I would be concerned and meet with them.

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57

I would suggest this student meet with the GC, and ask. They can ask how that one semester D grade will impact some of their college application choices, and they can ask how the GC addressed the issue when the student was not in their homeā€¦and explain why they want to know.

One thing that has been clarified in this and the studentā€™s chance me threadā€¦they seem to have met other criteria for meeting the four year English requirement for the UCs (AP score and SAT score) but can clarify this with their GC also.

Good luck!

58

OP can do what they want, but now they have received conflicting guidance which can be difficult for a hs senior to sort thru. As noted in the above comments, itā€™s likely that if OP discusses being kicked out that AOs who are mandated reporters will have to report the situation to the authorities (whatever the process is at a given college.) I have to report any instance where a student was kicked out or left to live at home alone, for example.

Perhaps OP should have had better accommodations but we donā€™t have all the details. We know they were kicked out and want to know if they should write about it in their apps, and even mentioned being 'afraid colleges will report it." They should know that there could be consequences (even though things at home seem to be resolved, more interviews/investigation could happen.) OP should ask their HS counselor what they recommend.

The HS counselor does not have to share what they wrote in their app with OP (assuming OP waived their FERPA rights.)

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59

Parachuting into this thread to say if there ever were a case for holistic admissions, this is it.

I would be more optimistic about admission chances to selective schools, but of course I am just a parent. In any case, the OP has acceptances already, so imho could shoot their shot at reaches.

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60

I agree - but is there the flip side that, when we talk about mental health issues, schools are risk averse and would want to avoid? They are taxed for resources too and anything they can mitigate up frontā€¦

Just asking the question.