<p>I checked out my final third quarter grades earlier today, and I almost had a heart attack. All of my other grades were relatively stable, but my AP Physics grade dropped 30 points between the second and third quarter- I looked at the breakdown and realized that I had while I had assumed my teacher had given me credit for assignments from when I was out, I really have no idea how it happened but I wound up with a few big zeros. The grades are closed- and I've never even had a C. I'm going to have a 57 on my report card for AP Physics in the third quarter. What will this mean to a college? Is my acceptance at either University of Rochester or RIT (or their honors program) on the line? What about the scholarships they offered me? What if I wind up with a high A mark in the fourth quarter? I'm sort of stunned, I didn't really slack off, I just had some communication problems and I really screwed myself without realizing it. I have no idea what to expect. Anyone have any advice?</p>
<p>Def. explain it. If it was a normal 30 point drop for no reason, then yes you would get a rescind. However this is special. Notify colleges or have ur teacher change it</p>
<p>Eek, what if the fourth quarter is stellar? It was only that one class, not everything- If the grade jumps back up with that explanation do you think I still will get rescinded?</p>
<p>No, they won't see it. (At least, most transcripts go by semester anyway)</p>
<p>You've talked with the teacher, right? What did the teacher say?</p>
<p>Well it depends too on how it's report to colleges - if ur school just reports semester grades or year-by-year grades, then it's ok don't worry. If your school is weird and reports quarter-by-quarter grades, then yes that's bad. If it's semester-by-semester or year by year interms of what grade is reported, as long as u do good 4th q it will come out likely to be in the mid 80's or so - not enough to scare the college.</p>
<p>I'm on break now so I've emailed the teacher but the grades are already in, so I don't think there's much he can (or would anyway- sort of the bare minimum type) do- I wish I would have discovered it earlier.</p>
<p>Anyway, I called admissions for both schools. Both of them basically gave me the message that as long as my other grades are normal and I get that grade back up to where it should be for the fourth quarter they don't see it being an issue. Both seemed glad that I called. So I guess I don't have to panic... just be extra diligent next quarter.</p>
<p>But yeah I guess I would recommend giving admissions a call right away if any of you find yourself in a similar situation. They seem to like it when you show that you know you screwed up and are willing to do whatever you need to in order to fix it.</p>
<p>At least at my school, teachers can go back and change grades. I had to have a teacher do that because for some reason he didn't grade a huge project that I turned in on time and everything... He just had to write a letter and fill out a form, I think- maybe there's a similar process at your school?</p>
<p>My suggestions would be:
1.) Do the missed assignments and hand them in together asap!!!
2.) If the teacher refuses to change the grade for 3rd quarter, see if the teacher is willing to calculate a different third quarter grade (reflecting the newly handed-in work) in determining your final grade for the end of the year.
3.) Bring your GC into the loop if he/she is even vaguely responsive and you perceive him/her on your side.
4.) Find out if your hs has some sort of policy under which teachers are supposed to let students know if they are suddenly doing sub-standard work or a grade has plummeted. Clearly, in dealing with this you need to take responsibility for the work you missed when you were out, but if such a policy exists, it might help you in terms of negotiating for a grade change or a different 3rd quarter number being used to calculate your final grade.</p>
<p>Thankfully he hadn't submitted his grades yet- he gave me partial credit for one of the assignments, and my third quarter grade is officially a 71. So if I keep my grades up next quarter and don't get a felony I'm probably in the clear?</p>
<p>"You are CORRECT."
- Death Star Rap, although I haven't seen it yet and don't plan to.</p>