I was wondering how bad a D in an optional college course will be on my college application. I was in pre-calculus as a junior and I wanted to be in AP Calculus BC for my senior year so I took Calculus I at a community college. I got a D in the course but I still got the 5 credits and my school allowed to me take AP Calculus BC and skip AB (they don’t know what I got in the course, they never asked). How will that D affect my chances for admission? Will they just acknowledge that I messed up and not care since I moved on anyways? Like if I get an A in AP Calculus BC will they overlook it or does the D make me look bad entirely? Sorry if this is a lot I am very stressed about it, I am good at calculus and I’m doing well in BC I just got a poor grade due to one messed up test score since my grade was solely based on those.
It looks bad but an A in AP Calc will help. Just pretend you’re on the side of the adcom. would you accept a student with a D in a college class? Would you expect someone who can’t pass a college class to be able to pass 3 or 4 in a year? Just remember that you can definitely save yourself
Since it’s on your transcript for the rest of your life, it will look bad. Colleges like to say that they look at you as a high school taking college, but I think it’s not true. I think that everything is based on a first impression. I understand you well!I took a fast track night class during my junior year in high school and did poorly. I really regret taking it since it will look bad on me for my entire whole life.
Does it matter if Calculus has nothing to do with my major since I’m doing psych? Also, how can I save myself? What if I just don’t put the grade on my college applications…
A D in a course is a major red flag, but you can’t do anything about it. It matters a tiny bit less than if you were going into STEM, but majoring in psychology won’t change that much. Won’t colleges see this grade anyway? Do you have the option not to put it on there?
A friend of mine that is attending UCLA is saying the D isn’t that bad since it was a weird one time thing in a random course I can just explain myself on the app where they give me the option to. I’m only applying to UCs. She said I could just not put it on there but I don’t think that’s true.
So are you implying that even with excellent ACT and SAT scores, 4.3 GPA, many extra curricular activities all leadership positions, this D in an optional summer college course significantly affects my chances to get into UCLA or Berkeley?
I still need help with this…
@mmay0160: No one on CC are admission officers, so no one can give you a definitive answer. These are the facts:
- You have to report the D on your application since this D will be on a college transcript. No hiding that fact.
- Yes, it can impact your chances. How much? Hard to say.
- You have excellent stats and are a competitive applicant.
According to link, your higher level Calculus classes validates the D.
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/files/validation_matrix_math_lote.pdf
Apply, have some good backups and hope for the best. Good Luck.
Thank you so much
Wait, could i just put that I passed the course rather than putting that I got a D? A D is technically passing
No. If it just says pass, then you can report pass. If not, then report what is stated on the transcript, the grade D.