Reply to What is a good GPA at Sidwell?

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[quote=Anonymous][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.

[b]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.[/b]

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.  [b]Honestly, it usually does work out. [/b] 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]

Excellent points here -- very true IME both as a teacher and as a parent high school and college students.    [/quote]

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