College Admissions Professional help needed!

[Anonymous]

DC did not do well in a higher level class (F) in the first semester (ended late Jan). As a result was asked to move down to a lower level class (not honors) for the remaining quarters. We met with the school counselor and they informed us that all schools DC applied to have been sent the mid-year transcript, which reflected the new course and a note explaining the change from what was reported previously and the reason for the change (grade was an F). They also advised us to send a letter to schools informing them of the change. DC worked with the high school counselor to draft a letter that needs to be sent.

We are looking for help from a professional who has dealt with a similar scenario before to review our letter, make sure it has the right level of detail with appropriate messaging, and deal with any potential responses down the road.

Appreciate if professionals in this field could reach out to me at [e-mail] to work through this.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

It sounds like your counselor is both sympathetic and helpful. Why not get them to look at the letter and advise?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like your counselor is both sympathetic and helpful. Why not get them to look at the letter and advise?

Yes. They were very helpful! They worked with DC on the letter but have never dealt with a similar scenario before. Spouse and I disagree on the level of detail to include and hence looking for professional help to make sure it doesn't impact DC negatively.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC did not do well in a higher level class (F) in the first semester (ended late Jan). As a result was asked to move down to a lower level class (not honors) for the remaining quarters. We met with the school counselor and they informed us that all schools DC applied to have been sent the mid-year transcript, which reflected the new course and a note explaining the change from what was reported previously and the reason for the change (grade was an F). They also advised us to send a letter to schools informing them of the change. DC worked with the high school counselor to draft a letter that needs to be sent.

We are looking for help from a professional who has dealt with a similar scenario before to review our letter, make sure it has the right level of detail with appropriate messaging, and deal with any potential responses down the road.

Appreciate if professionals in this field could reach out to me at [e-mail] to work through this.

Thank you!

It seems a little late for this. Decisions are starting to roll out and this course change happened in January? This is odd.

[Anonymous]

It’s March. You’re typing about this now? When you would have known about an F at Thanksgiving??

[Anonymous]

If the school already sent the new schedule and noted why the class changed, RD schools have already seen. I wouldn’t waste any more time if your kid wants to upload a letter to the portals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s March. You’re typing about this now? When you would have known about an F at Thanksgiving??

+1 how could you not know your kid was failing last semester?

[Anonymous]

You should have sent the letter in January. It doesn't matter now.

[Anonymous]

OP does your DD have any EA offers open? I personally would have her focus on accepting one of those offers and NOT draw attention to the poor grade. Presumably the EA schools are in receipt of the report with the F and still keep the offers open, so this is transparent. I’d want to nail it down to try to foreclose them coming back and saying they rescind. I’d think it’d be less likely they’d rescind if your DD has already paid the deposit. She can keep the counselor letter in her back pocket in case an EA school raises an issue. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP does your DD have any EA offers open? I personally would have her focus on accepting one of those offers and NOT draw attention to the poor grade. Presumably the EA schools are in receipt of the report with the F and still keep the offers open, so this is transparent. I’d want to nail it down to try to foreclose them coming back and saying they rescind. I’d think it’d be less likely they’d rescind if your DD has already paid the deposit. She can keep the counselor letter in her back pocket in case an EA school raises an issue. Good luck.

Thanks for the constructive feedback. Are you an admissions counselor? Thanks for taking the time to respond.
DC applied mostly EA and has several offers. Already put down a deposit for one before this grade fiasco and course change which happened early February. None of the EA schools requested mid-year grades so we are not sure if they actually looked at the mid-year report that the school sent. DC met with HS counselor mid-Feb. They suggested that we send a letter so schools are not surprised by the change when they get the final grade. The thinking was, its better to find out if there are any negative consequences now, rather than after acceptance deadlines have passed for all schools and we are out of options. Also want to decline the other offers so other students may benefit but we are hesitant due to the uncertainty.

RD: Applied to two RD schools, got accepted into one of them after the school sent in the mid-year grade but mid-year grades were not something they requested. However, this is a SSAR school and I wasn't sure if the SSAR needs to be updated as well.

The schools DC applied to and got into are all ranked in the 40s and lower if that matters at all in terms of determining how they may react.

[Anonymous]

Be prepared for all the offers to be rescinded if top 40 schools unless DD has an extremely good excuse (parent died, cancer, etc). You’d better send the letter now and I’d put as much detail as possible to explain the circumstances. I’d also start researching rolling admission colleges or prepare for a gap year and reapplying

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP does your DD have any EA offers open? I personally would have her focus on accepting one of those offers and NOT draw attention to the poor grade. Presumably the EA schools are in receipt of the report with the F and still keep the offers open, so this is transparent. I’d want to nail it down to try to foreclose them coming back and saying they rescind. I’d think it’d be less likely they’d rescind if your DD has already paid the deposit. She can keep the counselor letter in her back pocket in case an EA school raises an issue. Good luck.

Thanks for the constructive feedback. Are you an admissions counselor? Thanks for taking the time to respond.
DC applied mostly EA and has several offers. Already put down a deposit for one before this grade fiasco and course change which happened early February. None of the EA schools requested mid-year grades so we are not sure if they actually looked at the mid-year report that the school sent. DC met with HS counselor mid-Feb. They suggested that we send a letter so schools are not surprised by the change when they get the final grade. The thinking was, its better to find out if there are any negative consequences now, rather than after acceptance deadlines have passed for all schools and we are out of options. Also want to decline the other offers so other students may benefit but we are hesitant due to the uncertainty.

RD: Applied to two RD schools, got accepted into one of them after the school sent in the mid-year grade but mid-year grades were not something they requested. However, this is a SSAR school and I wasn't sure if the SSAR needs to be updated as well.

The schools DC applied to and got into are all ranked in the 40s and lower if that matters at all in terms of determining how they may react.

Do not decline any offers (they tend not to benefit other students anyway; colleges plan for this.) I would also research schools that are still accepting applications, to give yourself more options. In the last couple of days, my son received emails from Lynn and Franklin Pierce.

I think your counselor is giving you good advice (not that I'm an expert or anything.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC did not do well in a higher level class (F) in the first semester (ended late Jan). As a result was asked to move down to a lower level class (not honors) for the remaining quarters. We met with the school counselor and they informed us that all schools DC applied to have been sent the mid-year transcript, which reflected the new course and a note explaining the change from what was reported previously and the reason for the change (grade was an F). They also advised us to send a letter to schools informing them of the change. DC worked with the high school counselor to draft a letter that needs to be sent.

We are looking for help from a professional who has dealt with a similar scenario before to review our letter, make sure it has the right level of detail with appropriate messaging, and deal with any potential responses down the road.

Appreciate if professionals in this field could reach out to me at [e-mail] to work through this.


Your school is the worst. I am sorry. They really screwed your kid over.
Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC did not do well in a higher level class (F) in the first semester (ended late Jan). As a result was asked to move down to a lower level class (not honors) for the remaining quarters. We met with the school counselor and they informed us that all schools DC applied to have been sent the mid-year transcript, which reflected the new course and a note explaining the change from what was reported previously and the reason for the change (grade was an F). They also advised us to send a letter to schools informing them of the change. DC worked with the high school counselor to draft a letter that needs to be sent.

We are looking for help from a professional who has dealt with a similar scenario before to review our letter, make sure it has the right level of detail with appropriate messaging, and deal with any potential responses down the road.

Appreciate if professionals in this field could reach out to me at [e-mail] to work through this.


Your school is the worst. I am sorry. They really screwed your kid over.
Thank you!

Your school is the worst. I am sorry. They really screwed your kid over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC did not do well in a higher level class (F) in the first semester (ended late Jan). As a result was asked to move down to a lower level class (not honors) for the remaining quarters. We met with the school counselor and they informed us that all schools DC applied to have been sent the mid-year transcript, which reflected the new course and a note explaining the change from what was reported previously and the reason for the change (grade was an F). They also advised us to send a letter to schools informing them of the change. DC worked with the high school counselor to draft a letter that needs to be sent.

We are looking for help from a professional who has dealt with a similar scenario before to review our letter, make sure it has the right level of detail with appropriate messaging, and deal with any potential responses down the road.

Appreciate if professionals in this field could reach out to me at [e-mail] to work through this.


Your school is the worst. I am sorry. They really screwed your kid over.
Thank you!

Your school is the worst. I am sorry. They really screwed your kid over.

I will add they should have helped her or warned you about the grade before it got to this point.