2 D's

Applying to College
1

<p>i have two D's on my freshman report card. i moved here from israel and didnt let know the importance of grades back then. quite frankly i was in a state of confusion. and those two teachers (chemistry and english) were TERRIBLE! the classes themselves were easy but i was missing a lot of work i didnt even know i had. </p>

<p>they didnt even do their responsibilities for their students: before the semester was over they didnt approach me and show me what work i was missing, they didnt show me my current grade. i was only let know of the grade when i saw it on the report card, at which point is was too late to change. other students would approach these teachers and ask them what their grade is. but in the middle school i came from i was taught not to do that, since teachers are naturally busy and should not be bothered with such stuff.</p>

<p>overall it was unfair on so many levels.</p>

<p>ive been getting steady A's and B's since. my EC's are nothing to worry about either..</p>

<p>is it still possible to get accepted into a good college?</p>

2

<p>Yes. The fact it occurred in freshman year is a great help since that is least considered.</p>

3

<p>Yup. Some colleges (I believe UMich and the UC’s) don’t even look at freshman year grades.</p>

4

<p>^ It is correct that the UCs do not calculate freshman year into the “UC GPA,” but there are strict A-G subject requirements that must be met that might be a problem with those “Ds.” <a href=“http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/paths_to_adm/freshman/subject_reqs.html[/url]”>http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/paths_to_adm/freshman/subject_reqs.html&lt;/a&gt; If the courses in which the OP earned a “D” are needed to meet the A-G requirements, they must be retaken for a “C” or better.

<a href=“http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/paths_to_adm/freshman/scholarship_reqs.html[/url]”>http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/paths_to_adm/freshman/scholarship_reqs.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>***This info only applies to the UCs - other universities will have their own rules.</p>

5

<p>I’m sure you already know this, but just in case…even though the teachers involved might have been just awful, do not share this with the colleges to which you apply! If you need to provide additional info, you can tell colleges that immediately following your move to the US, you were very confused about the American educational system and what was expected, and that once you got acculturated by sophomore year, you began to love school and do well. Or something else that doesn’t blame anyone else for those grades. Don’t mention that the teachers were bad or that the low grades are anyone else’s fault.</p>

6

<p>I got 2 D’s my freshman year in Honors Math, I am in CP now. How much should this hurt my application? I’m a sophomore now and I got all A’s and 2 B’s. Would an 81 in French I hurt my application, I took it this semester. I was just curious too, didn’t mean to hijack the OP.</p>

<p>I am looking at schools such as NYU, USC, Northwestern, Kenyon, Reed, etc.</p>

<p>I did a lot better this year, lol! My honors English grade went up 10 points and my honors science grade went up 6 points. For me, it depends on the teacher and not really about the subject. I got an 90 in Honors Chem and I stink at the subject, but I have an amazing teacher. Is this a good thing because my grades can shift next year if I get terrible teachers?</p>

7

<p>I don’t think the teachers really had an obligation to let you know you were missing work. The fact that you didn’t know you had a D until the end of the semester doesn’t really help your case either. That being said though, I think it will work out OK for you. After all, it was freshman year. If you plan to explain the poor grades, I would focus on the confusion you were feeling having just moved, instead of on the bad teachers. Just a suggestion.</p>

8

<p>colleges look for an “upward trend.” If your grades have been higher since then, and your overall GPA is fine, then you should be ok. But, it also can depend on what schools you want. Are you looking to apply to ivies and other elites?</p>

<p>What are your stats?</p>

<p>Is money no object?</p>

9

<p>I wonder if your counselor can help you here. Your GC may be able to write in her letter that you had a problem transitioning to American school system. Try to stay away from blaming your teachers would yield better results, I think.</p>