Am I screwed now? Urgent (Top Schools)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Please answer me truthfully, I'm extremely worried...did bad this semester.</p>

<p>(Asian Male)
I've always been a high achieving student. My class has roughly 700 students and I'm ranked around 15. GPA-UW: 3.96, W: 4.30. I'm also a NMSF (probably finalist because I have not received indication that I failed to qualify).</p>

<p>My SAT is decent with a score of 2270 and I've taken 4 SATII (Chem, Bio, MathII, WorldHistory) all with 770+.</p>

<p>I also have very decent ECs. Internships, Volunteer, School Clubs, Sports, Music.
(I also feel that my college essays/supps were really good.)</p>

<p>I'm an aspiring premed, and I applied to the top schools: Duke, Cornell, UPenn, Dartmouth, JHU, Yale, USC---for scholarship consideration, Northwestern, Columbia, WUSTL, and the UCs.</p>

<p>However, first semester senior year, I ended up with a C in my AP Physics class...My first C ever too be honest. I've only gotten one B in all 4 years, and now a C...Am I literally screwed for regular decisions? </p>

<p>Freshmen: all A's (all honors classes)
Soph: 1 AP, all A's (all honors classes)
Junior: 5 APs, all A's first semester, one B+ second semester(rest A's)
Senior year: 4 APs: all A's except for a C in AP Physics...</p>

<p>Please chance me. Honest feedback. Will colleges regard my C as senioritis? Because I literally worked by butt off, sought out all resources, and did everything within realm of my control, but it just did not click for me. Did I just significantly lower my chances at these schools?</p>

2

<p>Please help a very stressed out applicant? :O</p>

3

<p>That C is kinda rough… How is your GPA with that C?</p>

4

<p>Not sure, it wasn’t listed on my online report score…I haven’t calculated…</p>

<p>so pretty much my grades : 10 APS: 1B+, 1C</p>

5

<p>I am no expert, BUT, since it is such an anomoly to your normal grades, it might stand out or it might be overlooked. I know you are honest when you say it didn’t click for you, but other explanations could be… failing one exam when you weren’t feeling well or having a teacher who tests and grades incredibly hard. They don’t see your actual grades, just the score, so they have no idea why you ended with a C. Since you have done well in all of your other classes, for your entire school career, I am guessing that you haven’t been slacking off. I guess if they ask, you will have to explain why you received a C. And hopefully you will do better next semester. Are you planning on studying physics?</p>

6

<p>I wouldn’t worry about it too much…in the school’s point of view, it could be for some strange reason that they don’t know about, so they’ll most likely give you some slack. But if your major has to do with physics, I might be concerned.</p>

<p>Best option would be to talk to your physics teacher and see I’d there’s ANY way to raise the grade. See what you could do to make up for any outlier grades or anything.</p>

7

<p>Premed/Biological Sciences. The teacher is unbearable. Her tests are just ridiculously hard.</p>

8

<p>If it’s serious (Your C), I say find some way to throw it properly in your essay. I think you’ve got a fighting chance. Make sure your recs and essay are superb! And if you don’t get in EA, you’ll at least get deferred. Any safety schools?</p>

9

<p>SwedishM8- I suspected a sadistic teacher…(looked obvious to me) or you were very sick on the day of the final unit test and there have only been two tests and few other assignments to improve your grade. That would have been a logical conclusion when looking without any explanation. I know of a sadistic teacher for an AP and he just relishes failing his entire class and telling them they are not very smart and making them sweat until the end of the marking period to see if his “curve” will land them an A or a D. Totally shakes their confidence and enjoys that. I do not think those type teachers are interested in education, only ego and power over their young students. If they ask, I would explain, but other than that, I would let it fly.</p>

10

<p>Bump Bump.</p>

<p>@marybee333
You nailed it on the spot. That’s exactly what my teacher does. </p>

<p>Also, for most colleges they have a policy that if you get below a C, you have to report it to the respective college for rescinding evaluation. Does that mean a C- puts you up for rescission? Or is anything below a C suggesting Ds or Fs. In the eyes of colleges does a C mean (C+, C, C-)?</p>

<p>It’s really pitiful that I’m even having such concerns. Stupid senior year.</p>