Can I Still Get into Scripps?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Scripps College
1

I’m a junior at Claremont High School, and up to this point my grades have been pretty high (minus freshman year.) I’ve had high hopes of getting into Scripps ever since my sister was accepted, but looking back at freshman year, I don’t know if that’s still possible. Here are my grades:

FRESHMAN YEAR 1ST/2ND SEMESTER:
Biology-A/A
Spanish 2-A/A
Honors Freshman English-A-/A-
P.E.-A+/A+
Video Production-A/A+
Honors Algebra 2-D/C

SOPHOMORE YEAR 1ST/2ND SEMESTER:
Precalculus-A-/A
Honors Sophomore English-A/A
P.E-A/A+
Chemistry-A/A
Honors Spanish 3-A-/A
Honors World History-A/A

JUNIOR YEAR 1ST SEMESTER:
AP U.S. History-A
AP Spanish 4-A-
AP Calculus (AB)-A
AP Comp-A
AP Bio-A-
Advanced Video Production-A+

SAT OVERALL-1970

I’ve gotten all As so far…except for stupid honors algebra 2. I frankly don’t know what was wrong with me or how I could’ve let myself get anything less than an A, much less a C! I know for UCs I would have technically passed the course, but for the Claremont Colleges I’m not sure if a D in a mandatory course is even accepted. If I’m able to retake the course [(which I will be this summer)(and hopefully get an A)] then can I still get in? My class rank right now is 61/663, and it’s all because of that one course. If I retake it will my class rank change? Will my overall GPA be affected? What will the official grade look like on my transcript-are the grades averaged out? Sorry for so many questions, but the bottom line is if I maintain straight As and retake H. Algebra 2 will I be able to get into Scripps?

Thanks a lot!

2

No one will be able to tell you for certain if you can get into Scripps but I definitely think you still have a chance. It looks like you’re taking honors/AP courses and doing well in them. Colleges like to see that. I think that most admissions officers will be able to look past a low grade in a single class you took freshman year, especially if the rest of your application is strong. If you retake the class, your class rank might change depending on how your school deal with these things. Most likely, your old grade will still be a part of your GPA but having an additional grade in there will help average things out a little bit. However, it will show college that a. you did end up learning the material and b. that you can overcome academic challenges. Your junior year grades are just phenomenal considering just how many AP classes you’re taking. Good job and good luck getting into Scripps!

3

Also, the fact that you have an A in AP Calc shows that you CAN succeed in advanced math courses. Colleges will probably just assume you had a teacher you didn’t get along with or something.