Midterm grades are out and I’ve just found out that I got an F on my AP Calc AB midterm. I’ve been barely scraping by with a B- average in this class, and I’m seriously worried that this will affect my chances of getting into any school, not to mention tank my semester grade. My ED doesn’t require mid-year reports, but it’s still terrible nonetheless, especially when the other schools see it (if they do, I’m not very sure).
In all honesty, I could have studied much harder for this exam than I did. I’m the only one in my class who failed and to make it worse, my teacher mentioned that she hasn’t been seeing me for extra help. Erroneously, I thought I could make it by doing Barron’s at home, but clearly that isn’t the case. Too little too late, I guess. My time-management issues also present a concern, considering I may have overloaded myself with work this year (AP Phys I, Bio, English). I’m doing pretty well in the others, but I’m worried about Calc.
I don’t think I’m in imminent danger of failing the course if I can pull a 180 on my grades, but I’m terrified the schools I’ve gotten into will rescind or I won’t get into my ED because of it. My parents won’t let me switch out, either, and I don’t think it would look very good if I did. However, neither does barely passing the course.
Please permit me to add one comment/suggestion. Obviously you know you alone are responsible for your current problem; I’m sure you’ll work hard and rectify the situation. However, that’s really not enough. There are some incredibly important lesson to be learned for college that result from this situation. Do yourself a BIG favor and seriously consider – and assimilate – these critical lessons. I’d nominate (only the “tip of the iceberg”):
Plain working harder, in a FAR more disciplined manner
Seeking extra help EARLY . . . it’s a LOT more difficult to catch up from well behind (as you’ll soon learn)
Your instructors are your allies and partners in learning . . . work with them
Time management
Planning to take all the key courses, but with NO/LIMITED overload
Please understand, I certainly am NOT trying to add to your current burdens. However, from personal experience, I can tell you that this high school “wake up call” can – if you work hard, think hard, and are greatly self disciplined – be a major “success catalyst” for college.
Have you discussed this with your teacher? I once got an A on a midterm but my teacher entered an E because they forgot to add 2 scantron scores together. If its not a mistake, figure out how it affects your semester grade and what the colleges’ policies are that you’ve been accepted to. If your average is a D or maybe even a C, contact them. For the colleges you haven’t heard back from yet, they will most likely get a mid-year report so they will consider it and it will hurt you.