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

Jolynne_Smyth
Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:20:05 +0000

Thank a lot to all!

Not to provide too much public info (hoping I won’t regret this) but son, in his essay, has really only one sentence about ‘not always seeing the point about working hard in school’ which was reflected in grades. Prior to that mentioned participating in CTY, having all As and mentioned his 11th grade turn around of all As in a schedule w/a few APs. So it (bad year) is sort of sandwiched in between a discussion of his prior ‘it was all easy for me’ story (true enough, thru middle school & most of 9th) and the ‘I eventually saw the light & got a high gpa in 11th’ denouement.

It’s sort of the story of his HS life and his toughest obstacle to overcome so far (in a pretty great, suburban kid life). It just happend to be a self-generated challenge, rather than external. Somehow, I see those internal challenges as valid – and not always succesfully overcome by many.

I may be partial to this story because I watched him live through it and come out focused and mature–maybe admissions officers wouldn’t care as much & it’s still too negative?

I’ve shown son the comments here & am asking him if he’d like to revise.