<p>...failed two classes sophomore year, second semester!!! These grades were removed from the scores that make up my gpa (since my school only counts the top 45 credits in your gpa), but will still show up on my transcript. Am I doomed? Everything else seems fine. 1600/2350 on SAT, 4.4w gpa (albeit it is rather low for an ivy, especially harvard) and absolutely amazing recs (the usual "best student of all time" kind of thing). I also have great ECs especially concerning speech/community service/business-esque clubs (leadership positions, etc.). The main problem is obviously the two classes that I failed in sophomore year, which is (what I believe to be) due to the fact that the teacher teaching the class (physics) was highly incompetent. I also went into a sort of depression during that time, but I really dont want to talk about this in my essay, as it seems a rather strange topic to talk to a college about. Am I done for?</p>
<p>Those two failed classes will probably cause the adcoms to raise some questions, so I would suggest you tell them the circumstances. You can talk about it in the “Additional Information” section of the common app if you don’t want to discuss it in one of your essays.</p>
<p>Harvard, and other colleges will recalculate your GPA, using academic classes (omitting PE, and other fluff courses.) Seeing that the class you failed was Physics, that may be a problem in your recalculated GPA.</p>
<p>2 Fs on a transcript will definitely make it stand out among other transcripts. So you either hope they will be dazzled by your improvement or you explain it. Just because your school doesn’t count your Fs into your gpa doesn’t mean colleges don’t, so you may want to reconfigure your gpa for the universities you are applying to and pick some safeties.</p>
<p>Agh… I can’t believe this. Do you think the fact that I got a 5 in AP Physics B and a 5 on AP Physics C (Mechanics) help? I mean right about now I know that I could teach a physics class better than that teacher, but colleges that I apply to won’t know this…</p>
<p>First of all, relax because there are lots of good schools to go to.</p>
<p>Second of all, you, your parents, your guidance counselor, and/or MD or therapist can write a brief note explaining that you dealt with a depression in that year (assuming it was diagnosed and treated), that you are better, and that that accounts for the grades. You or your guidance counselor could also, either instead or in addition, write something about the teacher/class. For instance, is the teacher gone? Did other students have problems?</p>
<p>The 5’s on AP’s are quite convincing and those scores could be mentioned in the letter about the F’s.</p>
<p>It is perfectly reasonable for someone in the list above to write a short note about a health or mental health problem. Many kids at Harvard have suffered or do suffer from depression and anxiety, and the progress you have made getting yourself out of it would be a plus, not a minus.</p>
<p>Basically, you don’t need to be confessional, but it is also not necessary to hide who you are. If Harvard has a problem with that (and they won’t) then to heck with Harvard, you know?</p>
<p>There are threads in the CC archive vault debating whether or or to bring up mental health issues in applications. Find and read and decide what you want to do</p>
<p>@Compmom: Thanks for the post. Unfortunately my depression wasn’t diagnosed at the time, but I know my counselor knew that I was hitting rock bottom. After school ended, I went to india and did some community service (tutored illiterate kids) and realized just how lucky I was compared to the people there. There are always people on the street asking for money, and it made me realize just how lucky I was. When I went back to school I wasn’t allowed to take AP physics so I self studied AP Physics B and C and got 5s on both of them. I also went beyond the call of duty and self studied AP calc bc and stats and got 5s on both of them (i dont believe anyone from my school has done this either). I went through a lot but I know those two Fs can never be changed… its always been my</p>
<p>Sorry about that, something must be wrong with the internet or something. It didn’t get the entirety of my post. Oh well. I was just saying how its always been my dream to go to a good university like an Ivy League school, and can’t believe how this one thing might keep me out of going. =(</p>
<p>I think there are many perfect people that don’t get into ivy’s etc. with so many people applying. I hear of many perfect students that don’t get in, but find other options that work. There is also always GRAD school too…showing how well you did in college then go to top grad school. Keep up the good work, all you can do is continue to do well and that will be behind you. </p>
<p>It is hard to know when to disclose. There is one person I know that was very sick junior yr. and missed over 20+ days from having mono. Her grades dipped although didn’t go lower than B in her AP classes but earned 5 on AP tests…it is hard to tell, do you put that in addiitonal info? She missed many full days and then many 1/2 days trying to juggle her junior year when she got sick.</p>
<p>What would you do…</p>