<p>Sorry in advance if this post sounds like I am ranting. I would just like to know if adcoms would seriously take into consideration a guidance counselor rec explaining Bs in AP Calc BC. My teacher is fresh out of college and it is his second year teaching. Statistically, there is considerable grade deflation as compared to last year (class average A- last year, this year B-.) The first trimester, I had a different teacher, in who's class I did very well in (A-). There have already been multiple complaints about him from 10+ students. My GC knows this and agreed to argue for me because he knows I work very hard and scored 5s on 4 practice AP exams without any tutoring. I am the only junior in a class of 9 (rest are seniors). The question is, do adcoms understand this if the GC stresses it in my recommendation? Will a 5 on the AP test and 800 on SAT math 2 solidify the argument? </p>
<p>You whining about this in any way to a college will not look good. A GC explaining that a particular teacher is a tough grader is acceptable.</p>
<p>Yes, that’s why I’m having him write it in the recommedation. What I am wondering is if the colleges will actually take this into account in admissions, and if so how much of an impact it will have. </p>
<p>Some will, some won’t. </p>
<p>How much one class out of four years worth of classes has an impact on anything is a great unknown. One class you have trouble with because of a teacher, that can be an exception. Two classes, that’s a coincidence. Three classes is a pattern.</p>
<p>Good luck on your exam tomorrow morning! You are taking the right approach with your GC explaining the situation in the GC reference. From my experience with selective schools, references matter, as does taking a rigorous course load. You have that covered. So, have fun with the test and show the teacher what you truly know!</p>
<p>Honestly you should get used to it. In college you will need to be self-learning the material yourself. Their are plenty of good Calc 2 sources on the internet like patrickjmt. </p>
<p>Use Khan Academy and stop whining. It’s your responsibility to learn whether or not the teacher teaches. Find a way. </p>
<p>
I’d bet your GC is laughing as he/she plans on doing exactly what you ask. As MIT says about rec letters
Yours? Yours will look little like that. </p>
<p>But it will carry a block stressing how tough this teacher was. I wouldn’t be surprised if your GC mentions that you insisted this excuse be placed in the letter in order to make sure the adcoms understand just what kind of applicant you are. Blaming others. Vexing. Unwilling to accept responsibility. Oh, yes, the adcoms are going to “understand” your GC rec perfectly.</p>
<p>“Support your conclusion with facts”…my GC has facts and statistics and will include them in the rec. Besides, it’s not like this is the only thing he will write about. He says he does this for students quite frequently. And I am not the only student who has filed a complaint. My school chose the most underqualified teacher to teach the toughest course in the high school because “no other teacher wanted to”. I think the adcoms deserve to know about this. I’m expecting at least a 4 on yesterday’s test…so at least if the adcoms don’t consider the GC, then they will see that my scores don’t parallel my grades.</p>
<p>Didn’t get this…a 4 would parallel your grades. Math2 doesn’t test calculus so it’s kind of irrelevant to your performance in calculus. If you’re not even <em>sure</em> you got more than 68% correct on the AP exam, I don’t see how you can insist that you are rightfully an A student.</p>
<p>A 4 is a respectable score on an AP exam. B/B- would parallel a 3 or lower. I would be very proud of myself to get a 4 or 5 without any tutoring or extra help (my teacher is 90% of time not there before/after school). Obviously math 2 does not test calculus, but it does test competence in high level math and critical thinking, which would show that I do in fact challenge myself and can solve fairly tricky/complicated problems, unlike what my grades alone might show. </p>
<p>5=A
4=B
3=C
2=D
1=F</p>
<p>^^ Although many interpret it that way, I’m not sure it’s exactly true, and it’s certainly not officially described that way.</p>
<p>This is the official description of the scores:
</p>
<p>So in no way does a 2 translate to a D, as no one would possible describe someone who receives a D in a course as “possibly qualified”.</p>
<p>I think addressing this in the GC letter only draws attention to a negative, frankly. Far better for your GC to talk about how awesome you are, if that is true.</p>
<p>@mikemac makes a valid point albeit harshly worded. A “B” in BC Calc is not the end of the world. Making a big deal about the teacher will inevitably make you sound like someone who: (1) projects blame on others when things don’t work out for you, and (2) will probably continue to do this in college. As others have pointed out, there are plenty of on-line resources to help you learn the material. Don’t have your GC waste valuable space on your recommendation letter drawing attention to a negative.</p>
<p>(Edit: just noticed that the original post was from back in May.)</p>
<p>Uh, isn’t a B- average in calc normal? For what it’s worth, B students in calc BC at my school have gotten into ivies/top schools. One class won’t kill you.</p>