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

BunsenBurner
Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:42:36 +0000

Jolynne, my D’ interviewer, an admissions officer from a selective LAC, asked D about her grades. D honestly mentioned her one and only C which she got in an advanced math class after switching schools (GCs did not know her Jr. High did not offer a pre-req. course for this advanced math, and by the time GC and D realized that, it was too late to switch classes, so D had to do a lot of catching up while balancing several honors classes, band and sports!). The admissions officer suggested writing a short explanation and incorporate it into her Common App. in the space for “other” stuff. D did write a very honest paragraph without blaming anyone, explained how she was able to bring her grade up, and apparently it worked.