a D!

<p>Hi-! I<code>ve posted this in another forum but I thought I</code>d also post this here since Chicago is my top choice. </p>

<p>I just got a D for math this semester. I<code>m a junior and I</code>m basically taking the hardest math class offered by my school (AP calc) . I consider myself pretty good at math. The teacher was a really difficult grader, the highest person grade in the class was a B-.
All my other grades are all A<code>s...
I haven</code>t recieved my AP scores yet, but I`m hoping to get atleast a 4.

My top choice right now is U of Chicago.
am I screwed? if I get a 4 on the AP test, and given that my other grades are all A`s and my counselor expalins that the teacher was a hard grader in my rec...do you say I still have a chance at Chicago??</p>

<p>There is no single grade at which Chicago will look and deny you admission. If you explain the situation and do well on the AP test they will listen.</p>

<p>Don't sweat it.</p>

<p>colleges, even some of the most selective, will forgive one bad grade, especially if it's in a class like AP Calc. Luckily, Uchicago isnt the type of school that would reject an applicant because of one bad grade--if they see other admirable qualities in your application, they'll probably ignore the D. if it's any solace, i know a girl who got a C- in a precalc class second semester junior year, and still got accepted to Northwestern.</p>

<p>Why don't you guys talk to your superintendent in your school district or the principle who is in charge of your high school about this situation?</p>

<p>If the highest grade is only B- in whole class and some A-students got Ds, I guess many people will think there is a problem with the teacher on either teaching or grading, or both.</p>

<p>I had plenty of C's on my report card, about 5 or so, and I still recieved admission and I will be attending in the fall.</p>

<p>Its no big deal- man-handle the AP test though</p>

<p>I don't think it would be a problem at all for Chicago. Keep in mind that some other colleges care a LOTabout 1 single low grade. I remember watching a PBS special about college admissions when they were showing a LAC (I think) and one admissions officer saw that a student got a D in 10th grade and rejected him. </p>

<p>Chicago isn't like that like though :)</p>

<p>Thanks everyone for your replies/encouraging words! I hope to improve my math grade next year by taking some math classes outside of school. </p>

<p>And biztogo- I talked to my counselor about this situation and asked her to look at the grade distributions for the class because it was so skewed. But she said that alot of teacher in the school don<code>t curve so she can</code>t really do anything about it. She also said it wouldn<code>t look good to write on my rec that it was my teacher</code>s grading system that was bad.... :(</p>

<p>Lucky you robert :-P
I think that's more the exception than the rule though, no offense.
Your essays MUST have been spectacular :-)</p>

<p>japstudent12: You should be okay with only one D since you have almost all A's. I guess you will have chance to address this when you apply UChicago. Like others said, if you got SAT II math say about 750 (although UChicago doesn't require SAT subject tests), and AP math say 4 or 5, that would show people the D you got was just something abnormal.</p>

<p>Or it shows that you're really good at math but really lazy, which isn't a good sign.
Playing devils advocate here :-)</p>

<p>Thanks again everyone!!
My SAT2 math results havent come back yet but hopefully they are good. I`m also doing full IB and will be taking the HL math exam next year- so I hope I will be predicted a 7. </p>

<p>And ridethecliche- yea I totally understand colleges thinking that I<code>m lazy :( But I hope my good grades in other subjects can prove that I</code>m not...and HOPEFULLY i can turn it around by getting better grades in math next year...</p>

<p>I just REALLY want to go to chicago. I will be going to the summer program (RIBS) at chicago- i know it<code>s not going to increase my chances or anything by going to the program, but I</code>m planning on doing an interview there. Do you guys have any other ideas on what to do as to compensate for this D in math..?</p>

<p>No, not really. You could write a letter when you start applying that says that you will do better and all that stuff and actually do better. Just don't apologize to the admissions people or make excuses.</p>

<p>Oh, WOW this is exactly what happened to me!!!
I got an 800 sat V and a 790 sat W - and have had straight As in every other class. (i'm valedictorian with a 3.9 gpa) I guess IB English III and literary analysis are just not my thing. in any case, i got a D for the 4th quarter (only a B for the semester) and my psycho english teacher actually wrote me a fantastic recommendation. hopefully, whether or not i address my experience in that class in an essay, it won't be a big deal for UChic. possibly for Yale (my other top choice) but i figure my essays should prove that wrong. plus, im a science/math kid.
wish me luck!! i LOVE UChic</p>