What does "successful completion" of senior mean really mean?

[D_yer_Maker]

<p>This person, posting on the Yale board, got 5 B’s and an A for his final semester of high school and was “rewarded” with the following letter from the Yale Admission Office when he graduated from his high school:</p>

<p>

@jamesdakrn

In reviewing your final high school transcript, we were disappointed to see that your spring term grades declined in all of your academic subjects. Your end-of-year grades were a clear departure from your previous excellent record.</p>

<p>In order for the Admissions Committee to be fully aware of any extenuating circumstances this term, I would like you to send me an explanation of the decline in your grades. You may email me at the address on this email of fax a letter to…
As you know, a condition of your admission, as outlined in the Instructions for Admitted Students, was that you would continue to perform ‘at a level comparable to the one presented to the admissions committee.’ Please carefully consider your response to the question of why you did not meet this expectation.</p>

<p>We look forward to hearing from you.</p>

<p>Sincerely,

</p>

<p>I don’t know the final outcome but, man, wouldn’t it just be a totally crappy day if you opened up your mailbox and received this letter?</p>

<p>And then there’s this poor kid who had to meet with the Admission Office during the summer after hanging for a month or so just to plead his case (successfully, as it later turns out) that the D he got in AP Physics – which was largely because he did miserably on his final exam – shouldn’t keep him from entering UCSD as a PoliSci major:</p>

<p>

@3down

Help! Has anyone had their child’s acceptance recinded?</p>

<p>My son got a D for the spring semester in his AP physics class. He was accepted at UCSD as a Poli Sci major and we know he could be rescinded. Does anyone have any experience with a situation like this? We have no idea how the decision process goes or if there is a way to mitigate the situation. Any advice?

</p>

<p>I wouldn’t want to even flirt with these situations. Yuck. Even if it works out, that’s some serious stress I’d gladly trade away even if it means working hard straight through senior year of high school.</p>

<p>These letters go out for good reason. Lots of kids applying to competitive colleges have been conditioned to think that the offer of admission to one’s first choice college is a goal. In fact, it’s just a beginning. And if you’re stalled out or have hit your maximum potential during your senior year of high school, you’re going to get off to a bad start in college. When you’re applying for grad school or internships or whatever challenging opportunity you set as your next goal…you don’t want to explain your freshman year away because you needed time to get your act in gear. The people who attend Haverford and colleges on a par with it already have their act in gear on Orientation.</p>

<p>Don’t give the Admission Office a valid reason to think that you’ve burned out and can’t hack college…especially if they have an unexpectedly high yield and beds are in high demand in the fall.</p>