<p>Dear Jaded:
Take the advice of your excellent Guidance Dept. They have placed dozens of kids with atypical science grades over the years into perfectly good colleges, and you are also strong in a field that many kids are weak in. Listen to them. Drop and do it again. Don't overschedule with extracurriculars this year so you can master Chem to your best ability. Work very hard for at least a C. 10th grade and 11th grade GPAs matter. Buy something like a Chemistry for Dummies book and read it before school starts to give you your best shot at grasping the material in round two. Don't expect to make a B or an A without a lot of personal private compenations/study. So you have an Achilles heel..many great people do. Some people can't learn a foreign language easily and some people are tone deaf. Not every student at TJ is a science savant.<br>
The key to life it to Know Thyself and this task takes a lifetime. It ain't easy. Performing arts is a wonderful avenue but it is tough for most people. You will be facing college list-making in one more year..and in order to make your list, you will want to understand your learning style, strengths and weaknesses. Don't avoid dealing with your Chemistry glitch. Face it and also take stock of your talents. There are several super college choices for your future even if a C turns out to be your best effort, but don't accept that D at this age when you have options. Do it over. I am thinking of a boy I know who flunked Physics at a good college not far from you. He took it over in the summer and returned to school. Right now he is fielding med school offers because perserverance and facing up to trouble spots is a skill he had. He did not hesitate to repeat his coursework but it wasn't fun and it was a bummer at first. good luck and keep in mind that you are a talented person with a great life ahead.</p>