Bad Grade in Chemistry...

<p>Hey everyone. So my Honors Chemistry teacher is notorious around my school for being AWFUL. Every student who has had him has complained and a bunch of people have attempted to get him fired- but to no avail. Not only is he a bad teacher (which I'll get into a little bit later), but he's EXTREMELY awkward, openly criticizing people in front of the class, announcing bad grades that people get, not looking you in the eye when talking, and he NEVER answers any questions that people ask.</p>

<p>Now, the only thing that really bothers me is that he is a bad teacher. We are two units behind the REGULAR chemistry students, and we had to take the HONORS final exam, which is supposed to be two units ahead of the regular students (meaning we are 4 units behind). The exam was today, and I think I did decent considering I taught myself everything this weekend (probs 85-86). Regardless, my average for the end of the year is most likely going to be a B+ (89%). I know that this is not a bad grade, but yes, its going to bring my straight-A GPA down and I plan on applying to Ivies in 2010. </p>

<p>Why are we so behind? Because for the past 5 weeks we have been making a website in the class. We have been making a website on something that is barely related to chemistry at all (message me if you want to know what it is); its for a club that my teacher advises. On the week before the final exam, when other classes were reviewing and asking questions, we were in the computer lab, basically doing this project for him. That's what our classes have been like for a while now.</p>

<p>So basically...what should I do? I got a B, even though I think that I'm good at chemistry. Should I take the Chemistry SAT? If I spend the summer reviewing and studying, I am confident that I can get 780+. Would a good score on that sort of "negate" the B on my transcript?</p>

<p>If you're applying to Ivies or others w/holistic evaluation, your single B versus an A is negligible. You'll be admitted/denied based on your entirety -- not a few hundredths of a point on your GPA. When I applied, I got only Bs in Honors Chem my Junior year (I took AP my Sr year). My stated intended major was Biology -- got into all schools applied, two Ivies and three top engineering schools. Eventually matriculated at an HYP.</p>

<p>Best of luck to you.</p>

<p>you got to relax a B is not that big of a deal. t26e4 is right its not the end of the world. and if you dont get a 780+ its not shokcing becuase that is incredibly tough to do. i would suggest taking ap before taking the subject test. chemistry is my best subject but i decided not to take the subject test because there is so much that can be asked.</p>

<p>I can probably take an online AP Chem class (school doesn't offer it), but yeah, I am confident that I can score well on the Chem SAT. I am good at math and science, so I'm really just hoping that a good SAT score will show adcoms that I'm smart, I just had an awful teahcer.</p>