[Rin<3]

Ok. So the exams are coming up and my grades (before the exams/midterms) have been finalized. 3 B's, 1 C, and 1 D for the semester. I tried to drop out of that one class that's been giving me such a hard time, but I couldn't. I failed my last test and now I have a D in AP Chem (there's always the midterm but that won't help...I'm just trying to not fail that one either). I'm not worried about the C because it's in AP English and counts only 50% since we're only halfway through the course (and I know that I can bring it up next semester). So the question is - is it bad if I've always been an A/B student (who's never even gotten a C...and that C in AP Eng won't even show up for me since it's only halfway through the course...and I have confidence that I can get a B at the end) and got her one and only D during her junior year? So it would be like: A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, B, B, B, B, B, B, B, B, C (incase), D - around that area (if I combine all 3 of my years - I'm predicting my grades for next semester...so I put in a C there just incase - especially since there's a second part of AP Chem for me next semester). I'm so worried right now because my goal is University Of North Carolina - Chapel Hill...which is actually a school w/ fairly high standards. This D in AP Chem won't affect my GPA as much because I've always done pretty well (it's still above 4 weighted...and above 3 unweighted) but they'll still see the D...and I'm afraid that that'll affect my chances of getting into that school big time ~ T.T I'm in-state so that's a big benefit. I have plenty of extracurriculars as well (volunteer work, clubs/officer spots, church activities, piano lessons, tutoring job, internship/summer program stuff) and I'm expecting a fairly good SAT score when I take it in March for the first time (or the second/third time ~ ^^;;). But still, will one D in my entire high school life (A's, B's and maybe one C incase I don't do well in my second part of AP Chem either...and minus the senior year since the college won't even see it till afterwards) ruin my chance of getting in (and it's AP Chem)? What if I did really well on the essays too (when I apply in my senior year)? I really want to get into that school but the D has been bothering me ever since. I've seen people get away w/ C's, getting accepted to UNC and other schools due to extracurriculars and such, but I just want to know how badly most colleges see one D (UNC is among the top 30 national universities incase you're wondering...around the late 20's). Can anyone lend me some words/answers here? Any advice? Thank you ~ T.T My goal has been that school since freshman year. That's why I'm so stressed over that D in AP Chem.

[Aurelius]

I don't think it's exclusively the D, but I think that fact that you have a declining curve of progress might hinder your chances. :/

[yongwonhi]

^ I don't think she put her grades in order of year...?

If not. I have a declining curve of progress too. .__. *is screwed*

Haha sorry, anyway, are you sure you can't do anything about the D? Have you tried EVERYTHING you can? I know someone who's transferring to Independent Study Chem right now because of a low grade in AP Chem. But, if there's nothing you can do, then I'd recommend adding in the "Additional Info" part of your college application (when you do it) why you received a low grade.

Good luck!

[chinese tears <3]

It does look bad in that your overall grades are declining, but if you start to do well at the end... that changes things. You still have a chance though. I got a D in Honors Chemistry and I still got into my first choice school, but it's probably not a school ranked as high as yours. ;; I would definitely make a comment about it in your additional comment/info section on your application though. Just keep trying until the end, even if the chance isn't as big as it was before... it's still there. They'll consider the fact that it's an AP course.

[tenshiii0ox]

Ah, so you're a junior. I'll be honest, one C would have maybe still cut a bit of slack. Not a "good" grade, but sometimes, life is really spontaneous. I know someone who had straight A's and suddenly got a C junior year because she had some family problems. She got into Berkley, LA... so on so forth. You name it. But a D is not a safe bet. A D during your senior year would have cut you some slack, but getting that grade junior year is really risky. Talk to your teacher and negotiate some type of deal.

[PDURRR]

iono bout your school but at my hs
a D in an Ap class is counted as a C in the GPA

and thats how ppl get beyond 4.0's
cause they ace AP's

[Rin<3]

Hey - guess what? Acing the midterm next week will get me a C in AP Chem for this semester~! It's not something to be happy about (an A on the AP Chem midterm...that's too much for me...), but that still means that I have a chance, right? Honestly speaking, the goal seems almost impossible for me, because I've never even gotten a C on any of my tests. I'll study like crazy before the test day arrives. But even if I get a D in this course, my mom told me that if I did well on the AP exam in May...it would sort of cover it up? Like, colleges (particularly my dream school - UNC Chapel Hill) will see that I actually gained something from the class despite my bad grade? I still have to explain why I got the D on my application (because it was my wrong decision to sign up for a class that I wasn't ready for). Junior year...why must you do this to me? T.T

I don't think it's exclusively the D, but I think that fact that you have a declining curve of progress might hinder your chances. :/

Oh wow, I didn't think of that. Shoot ~ T.T

^ I don't think she put her grades in order of year...?

If not. I have a declining curve of progress too. .__. *is screwed*

Haha sorry, anyway, are you sure you can't do anything about the D? Have you tried EVERYTHING you can? I know someone who's transferring to Independent Study Chem right now because of a low grade in AP Chem. But, if there's nothing you can do, then I'd recommend adding in the "Additional Info" part of your college application (when you do it) why you received a low grade.

Good luck!

Actually, I did put my grades in order of year. Straight A's in freshman year, all A's and 3 B's in sophomore year, and now...yeah. Well I tried to drop out, but that didn't work out. *sigh* Thanks though~!

It does look bad in that your overall grades are declining, but if you start to do well at the end... that changes things. You still have a chance though. I got a D in Honors Chemistry and I still got into my first choice school, but it's probably not a school ranked as high as yours. ;; I would definitely make a comment about it in your additional comment/info section on your application though. Just keep trying until the end, even if the chance isn't as big as it was before... it's still there. They'll consider the fact that it's an AP course.

Yeah...maybe my second semester (that I hope to do well in) will cover it up? Or show that I've been working hard and improving after the D in AP Chem? Yeah, I think I will end up using that additional info section.

Ah, so you're a junior. I'll be honest, one C would have maybe still cut a bit of slack. Not a "good" grade, but sometimes, life is really spontaneous. I know someone who had straight A's and suddenly got a C junior year because she had some family problems. She got into Berkley, LA... so on so forth. You name it. But a D is not a safe bet. A D during your senior year would have cut you some slack, but getting that grade junior year is really risky. Talk to your teacher and negotiate some type of deal.

I know, I'm fighting for a C. But I don't know how talking to my teacher would help. I mean, what can I say? I do horribly in your class, but I'm begging you for a C? She's a really sweet teacher but I'm not so sure about that. Gosh...I really wish that I could have taken this course in my senior year instead ~ T.T

iono bout your school but at my hs
a D in an Ap class is counted as a C in the GPA

and thats how ppl get beyond 4.0's
cause they ace AP's

My GPA isn't affected much because I've done well in my other classes so far. It's just that the colleges will still see the D and that's bothering me to no end.