Should discuss 'a bad grade year' in app essay?

Jolynne_Smyth
Fri, 08 Aug 2008 10:48:18 +0000

Thanks a lot for that input! GC wrote and mailed a rec letter to 9 colleges yesterday (her only day in the office during the summer) so we no longer have the option of having ‘GC cover it’ re: the bad year. Although in the ‘background sheet’ son gave to GC, he discussed his tough year, mentioning that he ‘didn’t have a goal,’ etc, so maybe she’ll discuss that. Which could make his essay reduntant, but hard to know what to do re: that.

Re: the reason for the problem year – frankly, we can’t really fight the facts (son was bored, rebellious and – after years of never having to study & still getting As–didn’t feel like putting out the req’d effort). Not particuarly sympathetic, I’d imagine. So, he’s going w/a ‘I’ve changed much since then & am now focused on my goal’ (which is true and ideally implies that this goal will continue to be motivating throughout college–which, most hopefully, it will!)