Raymond Brown, Texas Christian University’s Dean of Admissions, just sent a letter to about 100 incoming freshmen whose final high school transcripts showed a drop in their academic performance. Known informally as the “Fear of God” letter, he asks each student to submit to him as soon as possible “a written statement detailing the reasons surrounding your senior year performance.” And Brown makes it clear—the admission is in jeopardy.
Whether or not you’ve received a letter like this from your college, if your academic performance took a serious vacation last semester, do what TCU is asking those students to do—send the admissions office a written statement explaining the drop. Crossing your fingers and hoping the college won’t notice isn’t a good strategy. It’s standard practice for colleges to review final high school transcripts and to rescind offers of admission if your academic performance takes an early vacation. They’re going to notice. Why not start controlling the story now?
If you really do have a legitimate reason, share it. But don’t make weak excuses and tell the college that the pressure of being a yearbook section editor caused you to get Ds in calculus and government. If you have absolutely no excuse for the drop, admit you simply did something stupid and lost your focus. Colleges need to know that you’re going to arrive on campus in the fall ready to throw yourself into your academic work. Make it clear that you are, and you’ll lessen the likelihood that they’ll take your admission away.