Application Question: First Marking Period Grades?

<p>So I applied early and It seems that FSU will probably request for the first marking period grades for someone who is borderline and just their grades could maybe get them accepted.</p>

<p>My counselor, however says that they probably won't check the first marking period grades. If this is the case, then what is the point of students even signing up for AP classes their senior year? Isn't it just a waste if it doesn't even get looked at?</p>

<p>I am worried because I am failing one of my classes and I am thinking maybe it could result in me getting rejected.</p>

<p>My Senior Schedule with first marking period grades:
AP STAT: A (97)
AP PHYSICS: A (94)
AP PSYCHOLOGY: A (97)
AP GOV: A (95)
-----> AP CALC: F (51) <-----</p>

<p>Do you think this will affect me? The only reason I am worried is because
1) I'm an out of state student
2) my grades and test scores aren't THAT great (1780 SAT/3.6 out of 4 GPA)</p>

<p>The grade is my fault, but there's nothing I can do about it now. I can't even imagine what the admissions officer would think when he sees just that one outlier of a grade.</p>

<p>The upside is this class load has academic rigor. Try to bring the low score up as best you can. Applying early was smart.</p>

<p>FSU only looks at semester grades, unless your school does something different with your transcripts. Unless your school puts the quarter (or whatever the time frame is) grades on your transcript, FSU will not see that grade. </p>

<p>The reason you should still sign up for AP courses and such is because FSU still can request either your first semester or even your entire year’s transcripts. If you started slacking grade-wise or if you suddenly went from taking 5-6 APs your junior year to non-rigorous courses, FSU reserves the right to revoke your acceptance for admission. </p>

<p>If you are that borderline, they will likely defer you until March, and ask for your first semester grades. Unless you have an F (or a D) for a semester grade, you will be fine. However, I know how AP Calc is, and if you are struggling that badly know you may want to look at changing that class if at all possible. You may end up making a better choice with that than continuing to struggle. Unfortunately, one bad grade can wreck your application.</p>

<p>I’m talking about FSU looking at my grades before making the decision though; the decision comes out on Dec. 16th, and the first marking period report card comes out on Dec. 6th for my school. So I’m asking if it would be possible that FSU requests the most current grades to judge for my application. </p>

<p>As far as FSU looking at my semester grades in March or at the end of the year to see if I was slacking is not what I’m worried about, because I think I can raise it high before then. I’m just concerned about the initial decision, although I am aware that anything below a D can cause me to get rejected later.</p>

<p>I also talked to my counselor today and met with my AP Calc teacher. They agreed that they could be able to switch me into Advanced Calc but I would still keep the grade (51) but I would have an easier time bringing it up. Would this be a bad thing if FSU saw that I dropped AP Calc and switched into advanced but still might only have a C as my semester grade? (granted that I get an A the second marking period and average the two out to a C).</p>

<p>If your school grades come out Dec. 6, then FSU won’t see them for the Dec. 16th decision date.</p>

<p>Technically, any downward trend in your grades can get your acceptance rescinded, not just a grade of a D or F. That’s something to think about too.</p>

<p>If you drop the class, FSU will only care if you still get a bad grade in it; if you manage to pull a C or better- and especially if your final transcript shows an even better grade at the end of the year- the odds are that FSU won’t care.</p>