Due to a combination of mental issues and sheer struggle to make it through the coursework that I’ve chosen, my mid-year report is currently looking devastating. At best, I’ll be ending the semester with three C’s on my report card, and at worst, one or two F’s. How badly would three (barely) passing grades hurt my chances of being accepted into schools with prestige?
I am an IB diploma student, and almost all of my courses this year are IB HL’s and SL’s.
GPA: 3.6 UW/3.9 W
SAT: 1430 (superscored)
ACT: 33
Schools That I’m Considering:
Georgia Tech
Sarah Lawrence
UNC (they don’t require mid-year reports, but I’d particularly like a verdict on this one)
Bryn Mawr
Vanderbilt
UVA
Case Western Reserve
Washington University in St. Louis
University of Southern California
Look, I’m going to star tight the positives first. Your ACT is right on par with these schools. A 33 puts you at solid territory all of the schools you have listed, now the negatives…
Firstly, ouch. There’s no other way I can see that. A 3.9 weighted is so below average for most of these schools that it’s honestly kind of sad. I had a 4.5 weighted, 3.97 unweighted with a 1570 SAT and 36 ACT and was rejected at an Ivy Early Decision. Point being, your GPA of 3.6 is abysmal for these colleges, and now that you mention it’s going to get worse, I’ve gotta be frank with you my friend, I’d say your done. The fact that you have a lot of IBs may helps, but Fs? Even more so, more than one F? If you get a C most RD schools will question even considering you anymore, but Fs, you can forget about it? I’m normally one to be quite optimistic, but I gotta stick it to ya my friend, I’d say if you get an F at all, you’re totally screwed. If just Cs your chances will down spiral significantly, but it may not keep you out. So, pray to God you don’t wind up with any Fs, and you might just might have a chance.
Agreed with the previous post. You stand very low chance at almost all the schools listed already. On top of that, you barely have one~two match schools. You better give up on most of the schools on the list and start finding more match and safety schools before you really regret.
Georgia Tech (Reach)
Sarah Lawrence (Match)
UNC (Reach)
Bryn Mawr (Reach/Match)
Vanderbilt (Reach)
UVA (Reach)
Case Western Reserve (Reach)
Washington University in St. Louis (Reach)
University of Southern California (Reach)
Thanks to you both! I’m no fool, I’m aware that my GPA kills my chances at most of these schools and have been for a long time, so I have safeties and schools that I’m sure I’ll be able to get into. I’m surprised that Sarah Lawrence even comes up as a ‘match’ school for me. Glad to hear the honest truth, nonetheless.
Definitely, definitely not going to fail to graduate high school, lol. I’m not that slack, and regarding my mental hindrances, I am currently in the recovery process that should allow me to pull my grades high enough to pass second semester. Thankfully that is the least of my worries right now. But thank you for the reminder–I’m keeping a close eye on my grades at the moment.
If you’re mid-year report is going to be that bad, maybe when it has to be reported you can send a note with an explanation? You could probably call the schools and ask if they’d accept some sort of supplemental explanation?, especially if you have a doctors diagnosis for a mental health struggle. Best of luck with everything!
Are you sure your matches and safeties are still in those categories if this really happens? I think schools a tier down fro those you listed would be very concerned at a GPA of under 2.0 first semester of senior year (that is how it adds up to me).
Did you get any formal diagnosis for your issues? If so, speak to your GC, who may be able to put it in context for the colleges. But I don’t think that would salvage any of the schools you listed, honestly.
Submit an application to your local in-state or you will likely find yourself with no college to attend next fall. And your GC needs to explain your issues, not you. I am really sorry, but no college likes Fs, even if you have a great ACT score. I am not trying to be harsh, but honest. Prepare for the worst, and if the worst doesn’t happen, you will at least have a plan. Community college is a great way to ease into college life and will give you a chance to get your life in control. I went to community college, it was great.
Oh wow yikes, more people ended up responding to this than I anticipated.
Am I missing something at this point? My safeties are schools that don’t require a mid-year report with the initial regular decision application. I still plan to ask my guidance counselor whether or not it is the school’s policy to send one in regardless of what the college is asking for (at which point I will really have a problem on my hands if it is), but if her answer is no, they would not be seeing anything after that except for my final transcript, yes?
I applied to Case Western with a 3.93 weighted 3.8 unweighted and a 33 ACT. I got into Case Western with their max merit scholarship, 32.5k. I’d say Case is more in the match category.
I’m pretty certain that once you mid year grades are uploaded into Common App, all Common App colleges will receive it.
Having such a bad semester very well may be detrimental to your chances at top schools.
Your problem is that even though have safety schools, as soon as they see an F, they can and probably will rescind your acceptance. Or just not admit you in the first place. The rule is no Ds or Fs. Read up on the college websites, the info will be there. Your GC will HAVE to send final transcripts. You can’t hide your grades. You need to get your counselor involved asap. I am really sorry, but if you thought it was all done and dusted once you get an acceptance, you have made a mistake. You might ask about summer school, etc…to make up any failed classes.
@Lindagaf Sorry, I think we’re having a bit of a communication gap here, and I’m in a highly stressed state knowing how bad off I am right now, so I’d like to get this straightened out. I am aware that:
-colleges can rescind acceptances
-all of them require final transcripts
-I ‘can’t hide my grades’
-I need to get my counselor involved
I am currently doing badly in the first semester of three classes–a thing which has happened before, way back in freshman year (in one class rather than three). I am confident in my ability to be able to salvage the grades in my second semester and send in an acceptable final transcript. That is not the matter at hand, nor am I concerned that I will be flunking out of senior year, because I will not be flunking out of senior year.
You may correct me if I’m wrong in my assumption that final transcripts will only show my final grades in senior year. Colleges will not be viewing the grades I received this year by semester.
My much more immediate problem is my mid-year report, explaining why and how my first semester grades took such a hit this year, and keeping colleges from outright rejecting me as soon as they see them.
I really do appreciate the advice on what to do if I fail the curriculum. I will not be failing the curriculum. And I promise I’m not trying to be rude, but I don’t consider the suggestions of summer school or community college pertinent right now. I’m trying to resolve a problem, not throw my hands in the air and accept that I won’t be accomplishing my goals this year.
@yoani22 Speak to your counselor when you return to school this week as that is the person best situated to advise you. Any communication as to what occurred first semester should come from your college counselor in the counselor recommendation form or however the counselor deems best to approach. UNC-CH does not accept a mid-year report but requires you self-report your mid-year grades so basically every school on the list will be notified of the grades. The Fs will be very hard to overcome so just make sure you have a conversation with your counselor and a plan in place. You will end up at a school that is a good fit for you. Good luck!
It really depends on the school. They want to see mid year reports, and there is an F, then you may find that they will not admit you. I am very sorry you are stressed. I am not telling you to throw your hands in the air. I am trying to make you aware that those might be your options. My advice is to know what your options are, and not bury your head in the sand. You are going to be admiited or denied based on your mid year report. They will not see your final grades until well after admissions decisions have been released.
I am not sure that you will be accpeted with Fs. It is best to have your counselor try to explain what has happened, and hopefully colleges will look past the F and admit you. But they are going to make their decisions based on the transcript you have now, not the transcript you might have in June. You might get a conditional acceptance based on making up a class in summer school, so that might be an option. There are alternatives if you don’t get accepted. Those alternaitves might inlcude summer school and community college. Good luck.
OP don’t let that first poster get you down. She clearly had no social awareness/social skills, probably not too many friends.
The important thing is that in the end, it will work out. Two years from now it won’t be an issue anymore. Remember, worst case scenario you can go to a community college and get good grades there and transfer
