<p>Well s was declined from Whitman’s ED round 1. But we are already moving on to the other schools on his list. SCU, UPS and L and C. I need to satisy myself that the choice of subject matter was a good choice. S wrote about being diagnosed with a med condition and adjusting to it as he went through high school, keeping a sense of humor and realism about the course this set him on. Challenges and success he had with it and life and school in the face off it. He was diagnosed with it just before high school started. He wrote with grace and humor beyond his years as his AP english teacher told me. This was a short 500 word essay for the comm. app.
My concern: Is the subject matter looked upon adversly by admissions.</p>
<p>I think it sounds like a good topic, BUT it is hard to judge it without actually seeing the essay. If the essay avoided the “poor me” syndrome and focused on how he grew and developed as a person as a result of going through this, it should not be a negative. If you’d like me to take a look and give you my thoughts for what they’re worth, PM me.</p>
<p>Remember, the essay is really a small part of the overall admissions picture - other things, such as recommendations, interviews, showing interest, fit with the school, grades, test scores, h.s. curriculum, etc. also are important. </p>
<p>Finally, ask yourself this: would you really want him to go to a school where such an essay would be seen as a negative?</p>
<p>Sorry about the deferral, I know how much your son was hoping for an ED acceptance to Whitman. :(</p>
<p>Thanks, and no I wouldn’t. He did avoid the poor me thing. It was more like he had written a little play of a surreal situation with some humor mixed in.</p>
<p>Sweetkidsmom, Then it is probably other elements that led to the deferral — I know how much your son likes Whitman, so I will keep my fingers crossed that he is accepted during the RD round.</p>
<p>I haven’t read the essay so I don’t know if this is the case… but is his medical condition such that the collegewould have to do a lot of adjusting /modification to accomodate him, or such that he would have difficulty with the rigors of college life? I know that there are a lot of (sometimes unconscious) biases that effect us all, and it is possible that these could influence an adrep negatively… Were his stats within range?</p>
<p>I don’t think a lot of changes would have been made as they already have this on campus. Stats were SATs top edge and over the 75th% GPA lower(3.3 over all) 3.5 Jr year. I think he has good stats for the other schools other than class rank, but I want to make sure the essay doesn’t need to change.</p>
<p>Sometimes it is possible for the GC to talk frankly with the school and find out what the factors were in the admissions decision. This might help in your case. If the GC has a “relationship” with Whitman, that would be the ideal for obtaining the most valuable information, but it might be worth a try regardless.</p>
<p>Jmmom thanks. I decided to call Whitman this morning and am waiting for a return call. She is doing an interview at the moment. I am hoping to get some backround info on this decision to help him with the RD apps to SCU etc.</p>