How do you get colleges to acknowledge you when there is a drop during your junior , but a major change your senior year?

Hi, LaChelle. The fact that you are even asking this question means that you have taken a great first step, which is preparing yourself to address it. My suggestion is that you do exactly that: Address it. When I read an application, I am trying to get a clear sense of who you are as a person as well as who you are as a student. Admissions counselors are going to note that change in your transcript and wonder about it, so it is in your best interest to explain it. It is part of your story. You don't need to go into great personal detail and it doesn't need to be the focus of your primary essay(s), just an explanation--not an excuse, but some insight that demonstrates resilience in how you recovered academically. Most college applications offer optional space that you can use for exactly that purpose, something that says pretty much straight out, "Is there any additional information that you would like to relay that is important for us to know..." Take advantage of that space. We all go through difficult periods that affect us, and admissions counselors understand that and will appreciate your candor.

The first thing to do is to have a discussion with the admissions office and your academic adviser to see how you can proceed. They may be much more understanding and helpful than you expect.

Another thing to consider is whether you are following an appropriate career path. It is important to see how your personality traits relate to people working in those areas and talk to them in person to see what they do, how they got there, and what advice that they might have.

Getting to know yourself and how your personality traits relate to people involved in various career opportunities is very important in your decision making process. During my many years in Human Resources and College Recruiting, I ran across too many students who had skipped this very important step and ended up in a job situation which for which they were not well suited. Selecting a career area is like buying a pair of shoes. First you have to be properly fitted for the correct size, and then you need to try on and walk in the various shoe options to determine which is fits the best and is most comfortable for you to wear. Following are some important steps which I developed during my career which have been helpful to many .