Should I include this controversial event in my additional information?

[parentologist]

This is best explained by your counselor in their letter, saying something about your overall consistent excellent academic achievement having been only very briefly affected by your having lost 12 family members - cousins and their families - in a war bombing in the fall of '24. The counselor should emphasize that the shock of learning of this extended family tragedy only briefly affected your academic performance, and that you quickly recovered, getting a 97% on the Calc final, and if she can point to recovery in AP Research, she should mention that too. The goal is to portray you as demonstrating resilience - which you clearly did. If it is too late by the time you get back to school, you could ask the counselor to send an addendum to the schools with this info - I think it is certainly warranted, and it would get there in time to be added to your file before review.

You should not include this in your own additional info section at all, and most definitely not with a description of the status of those killed, where, by whom, in what manner, and for what reason. First of all, it’s always better if any explanation of hardships comes from the counselor, rather than from you. It validates the adverse circumstances, and avoids any semblance of appearance of your making an excuse for a drop in grades. The counselor should not even mention which war - of course, by your name, the school may realize that it’s in the middle east, but similar tragedies are ongoing in other areas of the world, too - and the point is the loss of extended family members, and its effect on you, not the political argument behind it.

Political protests on campus about the war in the Middle East have been a huge problem for college administrations. Admissions officers with 20 qualified applicants for every seat could easily decide to put yours aside, not out of prejudice but out of a vague concern that you could be more likely to join the protests, which have been very disruptive on many campuses. No one in the admissions committee will say this directly, but there are so many reasons to take another qualified applicant over you, without anyone saying a word about on-campus protests against Israel.

You have a really strong academic record, and stellar SAT scores. You’ve got a very interesting EC with intense involvement and leadership. As long as the admissions committees are made aware by your counselor of the circumstances, I don’t think that they will hold that brief drop in grades against you.

The bigger issue is that you have only listed extreme reaches, no matches or safeties. And I think you said that you were going to high school in the US, but did not mention whether or not you were applying as an international student (without a US green card or US citizenship). If that is the case, it could make your odds of acceptance even lower.

[Mwfan1921]

@eragonshadeslayer

So since I’ve sent the necessary requests and emails and everything, I’ll just wait it out, at least a few more days, and continue focusing on my side of the application – all the supplementals I’ve still got to write.

That is a good plan, I’m also sorry for your loss. I also echo you writing something like fretmother suggested (consider omitting the specific countries/conflict), and ask your counselor to write something later…but know he may or may not do that, especially since it sounds like he has already completed his LoR. Lastly, I do want to add that even with an explanation, some AOs might not really give much consideration for a drop in grades…it’s highly variable.

@eragonshadeslayer

I was planning on only using QuestBridge RD until recently when I started using the CommonApp (the exact reasons are besides the point)

Were you an unmatched finalist?

Although I don’t know your stats or full app, most QB schools should be considered reaches (some might be targets for some high stat and/or hooked applicants.) I just want to make sure you are applying to at least one affordable safety and some target schools. Do you have any affordable acceptances yet?

[compmom]

If the drop in the grades is the only reason for including this info, NO, absolutely do not include it. It will not help you to provide this info to excuse grades.

You could write a very brief few lines about how in such a such a month, 12 family members were killed in the war in South Lebanon and this has made you determined to help advocate for peace. Something like that.

Young people deal with all sorts of circumstances and their grades don’t drop. Of course sometimes they do- homelessness, loss of a parent, illness, trauma. But it is possible you will encounter difficult circumstances in college and the colleges prefer to think you will still function academically- in my view anyway.

[thumper1]

@eragonshadeslayer

Yep, true, they are all reach schools. I will be applying to my local state university in case I don’t get in, and I’m comfortable going there because I’d graduate in two years, so it’s a pretty good deal.

The OP wrote this…so it sounds like they have a local state university where they would be comfortable attending…and it’s affordable (I hope).

[2018Summer2018]

@eragonshadeslayer, I am sorry about your losses and all the trauma that you and your family is going through. I think it is perfectly fine to mention your situation. It all depends on how you word it. Pro-Israel or not, everybody understands that war tragically affects many people - including peaceful civilians, not just terrorists.

[2018Summer2018]

@compmom

It will not help you to provide this info to excuse grades.

Death is several family members is not a highly valid excuse?

@compmom

You could write a very brief few lines about how in such a such a month, 12 family members were killed in the war in South Lebanon and this has made you determined to help advocate for peace. Something like that.

This is a great idea!

[2018Summer2018]

@fretfulmother

What I meant about the sad and traumatic event (and I am sorry for your losses), is that you would describe it as, “I suffered the traumatic loss of twelve family members as non-combatant casualties in the war between Lebanon and Israel. This had a serious impact on my well-being…” I think it’s less “political” than saying something like (not saying you would), “Israeli airstrikes killed my twelve cousins”. In fact, you don’t have to specify which side your relatives were on, if you are really worried about bias one way or the other.

Excellent advice.

[compmom]

@2018Summer2018 what I meant was go ahead and mention the tragedies in the way I and others suggested but leave grades out of it. Admissions can come to their own conclusions.

[eragonshadeslayer]

Hello everyone, I decided to check this forum again, and I see that there are many responses. Thank you all for helping me so much in this time, I appreciate all your responses.

I’ve emailed my counselor about all this and he responded, not with much info but I’ll talk to him about it during school tomorrow.
Also, I did something similar to what @compmom suggested. I talked about how the experience made me resolved to use my privileged status as an American citizen to help others less fortunate than myself, which is what my personal statement is about, too, so it adds an extra dimension which the counselor can’t, I think. Given that my counselor will (probably?) mention the circumstances as well, I think this solution is the optimal one? Hopefully?

The wording I’ve already used for a few colleges is:

“I recently experienced the tragic loss of twelve family members as non-combatant casualties in the war between Lebanon and Israel.
This seriously affected my mental health, and I got a D- in my first Calculus III midterm (of two) as a result. After working through my emotions, I worked far harder, and got 97.5% in the final, the highest score in my class. That led me to getting a B overall in the class.
I got a C+ in AP Research the first trimester in a similar fashion. Being on a trimester rather than semester schedule (Calculus III was through dual enrollment at the University of Iowa), I had less time to fix this one.
This experience shook and saddened me for many weeks, but I’ve come out of it stronger, and with greater resolve to use my privileged position as an American to help those less fortunate than me.”

I see what compmom said:

@compmom

what I meant was go ahead and mention the tragedies in the way I and others suggested but leave grades out of it. Admissions can come to their own conclusions.

Leaving grades out of it might help I’ll talk it over with my counselor tomorrow.

@parentologist makes a very good point about the protests. I might amend it to be less specific

About reaches: I’ve got two years worth of credits plus family living near the University of Iowa, and given my academic stats and low financial status I’ll probably get enough aid and scholarships to make a bachelor’s affordable. I’m also willing to work a lot in college, so I expect to be able to end up better off than most once college is over. I’m a dual citizen of Lebanon and the US, so, not an international student thankfully.

Thank you everyone for all your help

[movingtothebeach]

@eragonshadeslayer

The wording I’ve already used for a few colleges is:

FWIW, I think this is very well-done - thoughtful and explanatory, and while you could leave the grades out of it, I don’t think you need to do so - this is a judgment call, and you’re demonstrating excellent judgment. Good luck with your applications!

[cinnamon1212]

I agree with @movingtothebeach . I think what you have written is excellent, and I would leave the mention of the grades in. You aren’t making excuses at all, you are providing a very reasonable explanation and context.

I wish you all the best. I know you will go far, wherever you go to college.

[2018Summer2018]

@eragonshadeslayer

“I recently experienced the tragic loss of twelve family members as non-combatant casualties in the war between Lebanon and Israel.
This seriously affected my mental health, and I got a D- in my first Calculus III midterm (of two) as a result. After working through my emotions, I worked far harder, and got 97.5% in the final, the highest score in my class. That led me to getting a B overall in the class.
I got a C+ in AP Research the first trimester in a similar fashion. Being on a trimester rather than semester schedule (Calculus III was through dual enrollment at the University of Iowa), I had less time to fix this one.
This experience shook and saddened me for many weeks, but I’ve come out of it stronger, and with greater resolve to use my privileged position as an American to help those less fortunate than me.”

This is very well worded.

[fretfulmother]

Hurrah! I feel honored good luck to you!!

[compmom]

I still think grades should be left out of it. Mentioning"effect on performance" maybe. But the admissions folks can come to their own conclusions. And a guidance counselor can explain the grades.

I think going into detail about grades kind of trivializes the 12 deaths, That’s my reaction. Grief would certainly supersede any concern about grades and college admission.