Reply to What is a good GPA at Sidwell?

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[quote=Anonymous]I'm a teacher and can say that what we're told -- recommendations matter -- really seems to be true.  Over my career I've had colleges directly contact me at times to thank me for a letter or respond to my offer of being willing to talk more about the student.  Knowing my letters are really being read, and can make a difference, really motivates me to do the best I can to support my students with my recommendation letters.

The strength of recommendation letters is definitely something not easily captured in Naviance scattergrams -- it would be a mistake NOT to pay attention to the numbers, but there is also more to the process.

Lastly, every year I see some kids coming out of the college process who are disappointed -- they aim high and get a batch of waiting lists (way more common than when I started teaching) and rejections from the top 10 schools, and sort of reluctantly try to get excited about the schools to which they have been admitted.  And then 99% of them, when they come back at Thanksgiving or Winter Break, are thrilled with their choice and doing such amazing and interesting things (way more impressive than what I recall doing in college!).  And the few kids who feel like a fish out of water at their original school often transfer and are thrilled with where they end up.  Honestly, it usually does work out.  They are so well prepared for the next step and the more they realize that, the more they grow in confidence and shrug off the December or April sting of a rejection letter.[/quote]

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