Hi Everyone, Sorry for the wordy texts. I am on the verge of committing to UCLA. However, I absolutely bombed my oral presentation in my AP Research class last week. I had been swamped every week with helping my parents out in the family restaurant, and so I went into the presentation being very poorly prepared. My teacher was disappointed with many of the presentations in the class (I was one of the worst), but all of us were surprised when she put in the oral presentation (It is for the AP Test) as an enormous assignment in the grade book. The class did not have any other big assignments in the grade book, and so I currently have a D (63.7) in the class. The teacher now says that there won’t be any other assignment for the rest of the semester and that she is only giving an extra credit assignment worth a maximum boost of 5 percent (which I am out of range for) :(. I am absolutely terrified right now. The teacher is not happy and I could very well end with a D in the class. I have 2 As and 3 B+ in my other AP classes right now (Stats, Biology, Lit, Latin, Econ), but this D is going to destroy me (I had near straight As in my previous years) . I have been trying to get in touch with an admissions counselor. Will the D be a for sure death sentence? Edit: AP Research is a G class on the A-G. I have already fulfilled my G requirements last year.
What does provisional admission contract state?
It does not matter that you have fulfilled the a-g course requirements, you are expected to continue doing well Senior year.
In the past for UCLA, you needed a 3.0 Unweighted GPA Senior year with no more than 2 C’s, no D’s or F’s. I would have your GC intervene since I am sure your teacher is aware of what is at stake as a Senior with college admissions.
I stress you really need to do everything within your power to get that grade up to a C-. What is your grade before the presentation? If you are doing well, this one grade should have not made such a huge impact on your overall class grade? Hopefully your teacher is just blowing off some steam and will be more reasonable once they cool off…
Best of luck.
The contract says that I am expected to notify the school if I get 2 or more Cs, any Ds or Fs. My grade was an A, but my teacher likes to grade on two categories, homework and timed presentation. I have a hundred in my homework category, but the section is only worth 20 out of 80. There were only thirty points in the bigger category, and the teacher put in the presentation as a 100 point assignment (Based off of a 24 point scoring rubric)! I have been thinking about mobilizing a few students to talk to administration (is that the GC?), but I don’t know if they can even do anything to convince her to change her grading system. Edit: I took all AP classes last semester and got 5 As and 1 B. I’m not 100 percent sure if my current grades (2 As, 3 Bs and 1 D) will make it above a 3.0. In the case that I fail to get it up, should I contact UCLA about my situation? Is there anything I can do to avoid the rescinding decision? Thank you
Go to your GC. stat.
Schools do not like to rescind acceptances, but you might want to call UCLA admissions and see what your options may be in the event you do receive a D. Definitely get your GC involved and see if they can approach your teacher in giving some more extra credit.
Is the GC the General Counselor?
As far as APs go, the AP Research class is not given a lot of weight in admission decisions based on my (limited) understanding in talking to AdCom folks.and, as a parent, I have never been thrilled with how it is handled. However, getting a D is not something you want to happen. So go to your Guidance Counselor, school principal etc NOW.
yes, GC = Guidance Counselor
Hello everybody I’m in the same situation. I failed a class called Senior Seminar which is an elective course, in my first semester of senior year. I have already completed my a-g courses last year but I am still stressed about them provoking my admission. I contacted the school about the F and yet to receive a response whether if I was rescinded. What should I do? Thanks
I can’t see one assignment killing an otherwise successful year. The D would be for this marking period, right? How did you do the 7 months prior to that assignment?
I did fine. Most of the assignments in the class were participation points, with next to no other grade. The teacher just decided to put in this one assignment as giant grade decider. 
Ok so relax. This one grade won’t make or break your course grade.
@bjkmom, I don’t see how you can possibly say that without knowing what percentage of the grade the oral presentation was. It sounds as if the teacher has been clear that there won’t be other assignments other than the minor extra credit(which isn’t uncommon for an AP class this late in the semester.) Certainly the best advice is to go see his guidance counselor and see what can be worked out.
Instead of talking to anyone else, I would talk to the teacher first. I would apologize for not have been more prepared then ask the teacher if there is anything you could do to improve your grade. Would the teacher let you do the presentation again? If you go to your GC/administration, the teacher may get more upset. The teacher could just be blowing off some steam right now.
You’re right, it’s my best guess and the teacher would be the one to see.
But the OP has gotten 2 or 3 report cards, right?
Unless the last marking period is worth more than the other 3 combined he’s probably ok.
But I do agree…talk to the teacher.
@bjkmom, I was assuming the grade was for his last semester. Where we are in California only semester grades show up on transcripts so a D in the second semester could mean rescission. My daughter has a couple of IB classes this semester where there are only two or three assignments, no final, and so the one major paper/presentation really determines the grade. In a course like AP Research, it wouldn’t surprise me if there were a similar setup.
@oldfort, I think your advice is best. Going to the teacher first seems like the right course of action, and seeing if the presentation can be re-done, if only privately for her, and the two grades averaged. That way she would see the OP making the effort and learning the material before the exam. I can’t believe a teacher would want to see a student’s admission to UCLA rescinded over one poorly done project.
At my kids’ school their transcript only showed the final grades, not semester grades. As long as you do not get below a C then it should be fine.
- After the teacher has calmed down, go to him/her, explain your situation, that you didn't have time to prepare because you were working, say that you are very motivated to become a better public speaker and would like a chance to demonstrate this and improve your final grade to a C. If s/he is open to this, work earnestly to earn your C.
- Simultaneously, talk to your parents and start the conversation with your school counselor, and possibly with the vice principal. Start yourself, but I think it is best to involve your parents soon. Principals don't like to see their students rescinded due to recalcitrant teachers. But in the initial conversation with counselor and VP, ask them NOT to go to the teacher yet, that you are trying to work it out, etc.
- Don't send in your SIR until the last day (May 1). Call UCLA admissions ASAP, as well as the admissions offices of your backup schools ASAP (other UCs, etc). Explain the situation (succinctly): you are in danger of getting a D in second semester in one class, your other classes are all As/Bs; you had to work and did not have time to prepare for the single assignment that determined your entire grade for this class, you are working with the teacher, but are not sure you can get the grade up to a C. There are many students in your class in the same situation, unfortunately, but the teacher is--eccentric--and you are afraid that you will all get D's. (You want to show that the teacher is being unreasonable, but you don't want to sound like a whining crybaby.) Ask directly: Will my admission be rescinded in this situation? Tell them that you haven't sent in your SIR and your school choice will depend on the answer to this question.
- See where you are on April 30, and then make your SIR decision based on your best judgment.
I had a situation like this with my son last year. Straight A’s both semesters of senior year, except for one class second semester where he had a D as of early May --teacher wouldn’t let him make up two surprise tests administered on the days he was visiting college campuses. Teacher was one month away from retirement. Son had already SIR’d, but we called the admissions office and they were understanding–didn’t give a guarantee, but said that they would evaluate the situation and since he was doing well in other classes, they would probably accept his explanation. Meanwhile, son worked with the teacher, and I called the counselor, and emailed and called the VP. We didn’t confront the teacher, but I laid the groundwork in case escalation would be necessary later. The teacher ended up offering generous extra credit to the class, son got the grade up (I think it ended up as a B), and we never had to go nuclear. But I was ready.
first semester of my senior year i got 2 c’s. Both AP classes. What are the chances of me getting rescinded?
Hi guys, I wanted to provide an update on my situation. I talked to my guidance counselor about the situation, and she subsequently notified administration about it. They talked to my teacher and managed to convince her. My teacher now placed our Research essay as a grade in a bigger category and brought my grade up to a C-. Thank you guys for all the advice!