<p>I'm applying to 13 colleges from my safeties to cornell and northwestern to stan and mit. I procrastinated on college essays and I invested a lot of time into them. At the same time, I was busy with sports and crap like that. That resulted in total neglect in THE undisputed, single and utmost dismal math class in the history of mankind - Linear Algebra. I got F-ed on every single test and didn't even bother with homework because I was still crunching away at the previous chapters. Basically, I didn't take this pre-req class "intro to proofs" that I think was essential for my understanding of the course. I explained that I didn't understand the class in the additional info part of my common app, but I forgot to mention the prerequisite that I never took. My spring semester, I'm planning to take Linear Algebra (not Theoretical Linear algebra; w/o the proofs), along with some other college classes. BTW, is there a way to update my Spring schedule on my college apps because I will have to change it in order to add Linear Algebra, as I decided on taking it AFter I turned in my apps, so I will have to tell my colleges that I will be replacing a course with linear algebra. And also, How will this D+ in this unfathomably scatological math course affect me in my applications?</p>
<p>P.S. Is there a way - by any means - to tell my colleges that I didn't take the pre-req class, which probably contributed largely to my D+?</p>
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Is there a way - by any means - to tell my colleges that I didn't take the pre-req class, which probably contributed largely to my D+?
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<p>I don't think that would help you. What might help you is showing willingness NOW to make a second attempt to learn linear algebra, which is a very important course for future scientists, engineers, or businessmen. </p>
<p>Good luck in your applications.</p>
<p>you can send it with your mid year report...the classes for spring (you have too) and then that brief explanation like a note in the same envelope as the report (if you're not doing it online).</p>
<p>OK? Now about that D+. on a Scale 1-10 1=utter reject 10=slightly screwed, how screwed am I?</p>
<p>you're probably a 7. How have you performed in high school and in other math classes? What was your SAT? How are your extra-curriculars? I think giving an explanation about your grade, the sports and not taking the prereq class, will put your grade into perspective. They will definitely be skeptical but I don't think they'd say "D+??? let's chuck it!" They'll see you are taking linear algebra next semester....a D+ means you'll have to take it again in college but doesn't mean they don't want you. </p>
<p>I can probably gauge how screwed you are based on your other achievements.</p>
<p>wow your high school offers such an advanced course. You're probably still at least a year ahead of most students in mathematics and i'm sure colleges will take into account the rigor of your curriculum. I do think, however, that it would have been really really good to mention that you didn't take the pre-req class, could have said due to scheduling conflicts, as that would have been a pretty valid reason for your performance.</p>
<p>ok cool guys, tkx a lot</p>
<p>btw, my GPA prior to this was 3.83 uw and my standardized tests are llloooowww; my SATIIs are 740+ though and my ECs are pretty focused.</p>
<p>What's really going to bring me down are probably my GPA, that D+, and my SAT/ACT (retaking SAT in 1-24 [pray for me :(]), sooo yea it's not looking good</p>
<p>Anymore inputs? On the additional info part, I included a lame excuse of transportation difficulty from my HS and my busy schedule. Is that going to make it worse?</p>
<p>buuuuummmmmmp</p>
<p>A class that this one is probably a good indicator that schools like MIT are not a good fit.</p>
<p>In order to get accepted at superselective colleges like MIT and Stanford, you'll have to convince them that they should take you over some applicant who has a perfect transcript.
Lesser schools which get fewer perfect applicants will be more sympathetic to your situation.</p>
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you'll have to convince them that they should take you over some applicant who has a perfect transcript.
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<p>Not necessarily. An MIT admission officer </p>
<p>describes MIT's entering class by saying "Most students have a healthy mix of A's and B's." He goes on to say, "The admitted students have perseverance. They are students who love to collaborate. They have significant initiative and curiosity. Take challenging courses in high school. Risk-taking and failure are important." </p>
<p>Think about the implications of that.</p>
<p>^"Risk-taking and failure are important"^</p>
<p>That puts me in a much better spot right? Because I could have dropped the course when I bombed that first test, but I stuck it through just cuz...(well, I was an idiot and didn't know what I was getting myself into; but adcoms might think otherwise) AND I'm retaking Linear Algebra. But it will be a simpler and less theoretical version of my previous class. In addition, I'm taking two other college courses my spring semester (one of them is Diff Eq). Bottomline: will they value my ambition over my 'lack of talent?' Because there a lot of perfect scores and 4.0s out there. And some of them will be rejected because they've worried too much about their numbers, unlike me.</p>
<p>Not for D+. They meant Bs in AP classes instead of As in regular classes. Why did you take this course?</p>
<p>Oh, come on, let's face it: no matter what sort of rhetorical spin you try to put on this academic trainwreck, the fact of the matter is, you failed. And failure to achieve scholastic success is never good.</p>
<p>I'm not promising good admission results from this low grade, I'm just disagreeing with the idea that dropping a class is even better than sticking with it. But, yes, apply where you are interested. It's up to the admission office to decide what it all means.</p>
<p>I would disagree with tokenadult. I would drop this class if you still can. If you can't, talk to your teacher and do everything you can, such as extra credits, to raise it to a C-.</p>
<p>wow i am feeling you
i have a D in BC calc right now
trying to do rly well on final to get a C on the semester.
so clearly, you are not the only one.
Just stay positive and do what you can
have your counselor send a note along with your mid year transcript while at the same time write them a letter saying how you will work hard nxt semester.</p>
<p>trust me when i say this: Calculus is a freaking pest compare to any proof based college math class. This is why there's a huge difference between theoretical Linear algebra and NOT theoretical. (something that I just realized; I remember how much I hate proofs) This is why the Linear algebra class that I will be taking will be a breeze; I already know most of the concepts, and there won't be any proofs!</p>