I’d say in the majority of classes I took in college, there were none of those thing. Usually a midterm and a final, sometimes a paper or a paper instead of the final. By law school, there was just a final. One test, everything on the line.
When my kids took APUSH, there were binders and checking of the binders and the grading of the binders and tabs and color coded tabs. I assured them college would be nothing like that and both found I was correct, that no teacher ever checked their binders (if they even had binders) or cared what color the tabs were. There was no homework to turn in - you were prepared for the exams or you weren’t.
I understand wanting to “fix” this and all the in and outs, but really your D is struggling in a class that a lot of kids struggle in. Also, senior year taking a class she isn’t interested in. She’s obviously missed some work. I’m sure not all the kids in the class are in this position. They knew when things were due, did the work and are receiving passing grades? If she’s managed all this time without accommodations, what is different now?
Some teachers are difficult- in most cases you just have to learn to work with it.
I honestly think your going to have a very very hard time getting this grade changed.
I agree with not pointing fingers at teacher. Figure out an explanation without pointing blame elsewhere. It is OK if your D is not good a physics if she is not a potential STEM major in college. She gave it a good try, that shows willingness to stretch herself and explore courses outside her comfort zone. It is OK.
Lots of stuff both sides, not going to repeat stuff that’s already been said, but this jumped out at me:
Our kids were always told never to aim for a C because unexpected events could easily turn it into a D. Sadly, that’s what has happened here. I don’t really understand the rationale in taking an AP course and aiming at a C, especially when the rest of the record looks so good, but I do think that’s at least part of the issue here. Can be another important lesson learnt.
OP - I can appreciate the frustration with teachers not updating grades or returning assignments, but that isn’t unique and she may have the same issue in college. In many ways college can be worse because the entire grade can be based just on 2-3 tests. Students still need to find a way to be successful.
I agreed with many of the sentiments expressed here about how the student ended up with the grade and that it’s probably unreasonable to expect it to change.
But on behalf of the OP, I am frustrated! The question is what experience does anyone have with submitting an application that includes a transcript, fundamentally good, with a stand-out D on it? Can we help?
While it has not happened at my house, I see it happen every year.
D get a D in a core subject, it depends on where/what school. It may not matter at the State U (other than the honors program). However, since Op is in CA, it will probably matter with the UCs. Will it matter at selective school, yes, it probably will (especially in the absence of some extenuating circumstances). I have every confidence that do will have some college acceptances, just now have to focus on moving forward and finishing strong.
I may be the only one who dealt with this. The college was a top 25 and I think D2 ended 2nd sem with a B-, so a C- for the year. I don’t know what the GC said to the college. I do know I’ve seen apps where the GC explains the student is diligent, conscientious, etc, and explains a particular teacher is challenging (done in the positive, but going to bat for the kid, without offending a peer.)
The college wants the grades by 5 days. OP has described “an endless complaint process with the school.” Not great PR. Meanwhile, it seems some colleges are “fine” with the dropped course.
Manage the most urgent bullets first. You need the grades in. The GC can explain there’s a pending review. But you can’t wait to send the grades. And the GC needs time to compose her letter, if she agrees, at this point.
Later, if it gets changed to a C, you can update the colleges.
@sybbie719 it may not be UCs. OP said in another thread, “Calif state schools,” the gpa is 3.9 weighted. May be CSUs and then some others. We just don’t know.
I personally guess she may be ok at CSUs, depending which, but OP has got to take the right action asap.
I’m just concerned OP told colleges the transcript was delayed, hoping to buy time for the district/classroom issue to resolve itself. Colleges could find out from HS that grades were issued on a certain date. OP daughter doesn’t need lying to colleges on top of the grade issue.
Gardenstatelegal Thanks for getting what I was hoping to get here.I did not post to have what I was telling then have numerous people tell me that I was wrong. No way she could have gotten a C by people that don’t understand the grading in her class .I did not post her grading rubric for the class as that is another thing unavailable from the teacher.I appreciate the few who by their own experience knew exactly what was going on.What I did ask for was how to handle the repercussions of a D from personal knowledge.How to approach the colleges. I’m not interested in having to explain her ADHD ,what happened with the teacher but would love the supportive posts that could possibly share their experiences.
apraxiamom Geez thanks for calling me a liar. We did tell the schools their was a “problem” with her transcript.How is that lying. There was a review that we were hoping would be resolved and delaying the transcript 2 weeks from when they were available.We will clearly say we had hoped to resolve before sending in.What is not transparent with that?
In any case, once the grade is final, if it is a D, then she needs to inform the colleges that she applied to about it. If she is already admitted, she needs to ask them if it will result in rescission of admission.
If you are in California, starting at a community college is not the worst thing in the world if none of the four year schools admit and do not rescind.
Not only does she have to communicate to all colleges about the D, but also that she dropped an AP class mid-year. We don’t know what schools we are talking about but those two surprises could result in rescinding admission at some schools.
She will be notifying the schools she dropped the class .She has notified the private colleges but not the UC’s and Cal
s She already has acceptances from Cal Pomona and Cal long Beach.This class was not part of her A-G requirements as she had already completed those as a junior
UCs and CSUs will want to know about any additional courses in the a-g categories beyond those taken for the minimum requirements.
For UCs, http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/after-you-apply/index.html says “If you change schools, add or drop a course, or fail to earn a C or better in a course after you submit your application, you must notify the UC Application Center by email or postal mail. Your correspondence must include your name, UC Application ID number and your signature (if you mail a letter), and will be available to all the campuses to which you applied.”
@shipoo: AP Physics is still an a-g course although not a minimum a-g course requirement for the Cal States or UC’s, however getting a D in any a-g course Senior year is grounds for rescinding an acceptance especially for the UC’s. She is required to notify the UC’s and Cal states and as I stated above, it should done sooner than later along with notifying all schools about dropping the class. CSU’s and UC’s do not like surprises so do not wait until final transcripts are due and there are no options. She has some extenuating circumstances involved and with luck the schools will be understanding but being proactive is the key.