[___cee]

thanks for all your input guys

[chocolateturtle]

That F is definitely going to scar...a lot but like, can't you just retake the AP class and if you get a better grade, it'll replace that F... and you can explain in your essays about that grade. But personally, that F will look awful and UCB...you know how very selective they are. Iono about USC though, but a withdraw from an AP class looks bad on a transcript also. Just do well on the AP exam, getting a 4 or 5 might change their views about that F.

[___cee]

But a WF won't count on my overall GPA, am I wrong? So isn't it better for me to take a WF?
Yeah, UCB...very selective. Ahhh...
if I retake AP Chem next year it'll still be too late, they will still see that horrible F :[

If there's nothing drastic I can do about this,
would it look good if I got an A or B for this semester and do well on the AP exam?
I'm pretty sure I can pull it off, since I'm working very hard now.

[josebiwasabi]

write a hell of a good excuse for the F, and maybe you'll have some luck.

USC has gotten very competitive to get into, as well, with an unweighted 3.8+ average gpa for incoming students.

[mp.ARK]

I would recommend looking into a general chemistry class of some sort at a local community college, during the summer. It might not replace the F you received, but it will definitely show colleges that you've tried to do something about it.

[SophiaSan]

ahah its okay!
i failed the first semester of APUSH!
ahhaah!!!

[uninfatuated]

ask if your teacher changes your semester grade depending on your AP grade. my teacher said that if we get a 5 on the AP test then he'll change the first and second semester's grade to an A. i don't know, some teachers are cool like that.

[joogrlpekaun]

You only failed one semester. If your final grade is good enough, you won't fail the entire class, though your grade won't be great. I would say stick with it, and learn from my story:

I'm a senior now. I have decent extracurriculars, a 3.7 GPA freshman year, 3.9 sophomore year. Then I had family problems, started struggling, and ended up with a 2.9 unweighted GPA for my junior year with a C+ in AP Bio, D+ in DNA Science (a semester elective), C in physics, C+ in Precalc, and then a couple of B's and a couple of A's in electives. This year, I got straight A's first semester, though, and I've been accepted to McGill University and a couple other places. Last year, I seriously thought my chances of getting into a place I wanted to go were totally shot. I thought nobody would want me. So, colleges do consider special circumstances and they do sometimes take them into account when you just barely pass a class.

If you don't think you can even pass for the year, then stick it out, take the AP test I guess and then a class over the summer if you have to. I don't think a WF this late in the year is a good idea; you needed to pull out way back when you knew you were failing if you wanted to do that and then take another class. At this point, I think you need to work your a$$ off and pass by all means necessary, even if you only barely pull it off. Then make sure you do a good job of explaining your problems and how you worked hard to overcome them.

[___cee]

Thank you guys so much for the information and advice.

It's spring break now and I still have that B, but I'm pretty sure I can pull off an A by the time the year ends.
Like you said, joogrlpekaun, I've been busting my a** for this class and I BETTER get a 5 on the AP exam.
But I guess it IS too late for a WF.
Does it make any difference if I receive a 5 and an A for second semester?
I'll ask my teacher if he'll change my first semester grade, but I'm pretty sure he won't.
Also, I'll try and make the first semester up with a chem class at the local uni (I am also taking a calc class there too, so it should turn out alright) during the summer.

*Sigh*
This has gotten way out of hand...as of now I believe I can't get into any college except the one where I live ='(
There goes USC or Berkeley...

Also, can you guys judge my extracurric's? Are they ANY good?

[joogrlpekaun]

It's spring break now and I still have that B, but I'm pretty sure I can pull off an A by the time the year ends.
Like you said, joogrlpekaun, I've been busting my a** for this class and I BETTER get a 5 on the AP exam.
But I guess it IS too late for a WF.
Does it make any difference if I receive a 5 and an A for second semester?
I'll ask my teacher if he'll change my first semester grade, but I'm pretty sure he won't.
Also, I'll try and make the first semester up with a chem class at the local uni (I am also taking a calc

Sounds good. It will make a huge difference. Compared to the person who had an A to begin with, you won't have such a great final grade. But getting a C or C+ overall and a 5 on the AP exam is WAY better than a WF and no AP score, or an F overall, or a C with, like, a 2. You can't change the past, but you can at least improve your chances, especially if the rest of your high school work is solid. Also, you're gonna have to do what I did and change your expectations a little. I knew at the end of last year I wasn't looking at Ivy Leagues because of my mistakes, but that didn't mean I couldn't get in someplace I'd want to go. Go ahead and try applying to USC and Berkeley if your application is otherwise strong and you have your heart set on it. They might be reach schools, but not necessarily impossible. At least you won't wonder "What if I'd applied...." right?

Follow your action plan for this year and get straight A's next year first semester. That'll help more than you think.