Strong applicant with weak LORs due to extenuating circumstances - advice for 11th grader??

[Anonymous]

For context, I am a great student. I have a 4.0, 1540+ SAT, a clear “spike," national and international awards/programs.

The problem is, I have been dealing with chronic health issues pretty much the entirety of 11th grade. This has affected my ability to attend class (I am absent maybe 80% of the time), complete work, concentrate, etc. I have a 504 plan, but I miss so much school that even accomodations don’t help much.

Because I essentially never attend class, my teachers pretty much know me as someone who turns stuff in late (even though it’s excused), does well on assignments, but they don’t know me as a person.

I’m scared my recommendation letters will be weak. I don’t want this to be the thing holding me back from getting into top schools like MIT, Caltech, Berkeley, etc. I feel like I have a genuine shot because my ECs and awards are strong, but never showing up to school and having zero relationship with my teachers is a bad look. I plan to discuss my health situation in my college application, but I’m scared my teachers will either refuse to write letters, or they’ll be very weak/neutral at best.

Can I fix this, or am I doomed to weak LORs? Please please please give any advice, I really need it.

[Anonymous]

Sorry to hear about your health issues. Are they under control now, so that you are now able to consistently attend class and meet deadlines? I think that if that's the case, you may want to use either a 12th grade teacher or 10th grade teacher who knows you well and you may want to mention how you've overcome these issues, perhaps in the additional information session.

[Anonymous]

I would ask your college counselor how to approach. Did you have home and hospital instruction or similar? I would worry that schools would discount your high grades if they think that the work was easy enough that you could get As without attending class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For context, I am a great student. I have a 4.0, 1540+ SAT, a clear “spike," national and international awards/programs.

The problem is, I have been dealing with chronic health issues pretty much the entirety of 11th grade. This has affected my ability to attend class (I am absent maybe 80% of the time), complete work, concentrate, etc. I have a 504 plan, but I miss so much school that even accomodations don’t help much.

Because I essentially never attend class, my teachers pretty much know me as someone who turns stuff in late (even though it’s excused), does well on assignments, but they don’t know me as a person.

I’m scared my recommendation letters will be weak. I don’t want this to be the thing holding me back from getting into top schools like MIT, Caltech, Berkeley, etc. I feel like I have a genuine shot because my ECs and awards are strong, but never showing up to school and having zero relationship with my teachers is a bad look. I plan to discuss my health situation in my college application, but I’m scared my teachers will either refuse to write letters, or they’ll be very weak/neutral at best.

Can I fix this, or am I doomed to weak LORs? Please please please give any advice, I really need it.

Good news for you is that the UC's don't use letter of recommendations.

[Anonymous]

Have AI write them and just ask your teachers to sign them.

[Anonymous]

OP, definitely ask the counselor. But also go talk to the teachers in person. I already find your story compelling , I am sure they will, too - or they already do. If you are getting As in all of your classes, they probably have more good things to say about you than you realize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have AI write them and just ask your teachers to sign them.

no

[Anonymous]

EQ does matter in admissions. The weak letters wouldn't be because of extenuating circumstances, they would be because of choices you made not to engage with your teachers. If you're capable of having "a 4.0, 1540+ SAT, a clear “spike," national and international awards/programs," you would also have been capable of speaking with your teachers about your absences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:EQ does matter in admissions. The weak letters wouldn't be because of extenuating circumstances, they would be because of choices you made not to engage with your teachers. If you're capable of having "a 4.0, 1540+ SAT, a clear “spike," national and international awards/programs," you would also have been capable of speaking with your teachers about your absences.

This. Absent 80% of the time means present 1 day a week. During the study period, lunch, before or after school you should have been communicated with the teachers and tried to get them to know you. Ask them to be honest with you ant what they might be able to say now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, definitely ask the counselor. But also go talk to the teachers in person. I already find your story compelling , I am sure they will, too - or they already do. If you are getting As in all of your classes, they probably have more good things to say about you than you realize.

I agree with this. Ask for a few minutes after school to talk to the ones you want to be your recommenders.

Come with your brag sheet completed and mention your concerns.

Be aware that this may cause them to mention your illness in their letters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For context, I am a great student. I have a 4.0, 1540+ SAT, a clear “spike," national and international awards/programs.

The problem is, I have been dealing with chronic health issues pretty much the entirety of 11th grade. This has affected my ability to attend class (I am absent maybe 80% of the time), complete work, concentrate, etc. I have a 504 plan, but I miss so much school that even accomodations don’t help much.

Because I essentially never attend class, my teachers pretty much know me as someone who turns stuff in late (even though it’s excused), does well on assignments, but they don’t know me as a person.

I’m scared my recommendation letters will be weak. I don’t want this to be the thing holding me back from getting into top schools like MIT, Caltech, Berkeley, etc. I feel like I have a genuine shot because my ECs and awards are strong, but never showing up to school and having zero relationship with my teachers is a bad look. I plan to discuss my health situation in my college application, but I’m scared my teachers will either refuse to write letters, or they’ll be very weak/neutral at best.

Can I fix this, or am I doomed to weak LORs? Please please please give any advice, I really need it.

Good news for you is that the UC's don't use letter of recommendations.

This. They don’t look at LORs, you’re already planning to apply to UCB, and it’s all one application, so go ahead and apply to some others, too, as targets and safeties. UCSD, UCSB, Davis, and Irvine would all be worth consideration and are not that hard from OOS.

[Anonymous]

This story doesn't make sense to me. How could a student be well enough to accomplish that much and yet not be well enough to attend school 80% of the time? Doesn't track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This story doesn't make sense to me. How could a student be well enough to accomplish that much and yet not be well enough to attend school 80% of the time? Doesn't track.

1) Assignments are really easy
2) Pity grades.
3) Many assignments are excused

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This story doesn't make sense to me. How could a student be well enough to accomplish that much and yet not be well enough to attend school 80% of the time? Doesn't track.

+1. Sounds like school is easy or maybe someone else helping with the work while op earns those national and international awards...

[Anonymous]

Maybe you need an IEP instead of a 504? Also, how will you handle MIT if you always turn work in late and don't go to lectures and labs? I mean, will you be capable of handling such an intense school where knowledge is throw at you like water coming from a fire hose at full blast?