Doing poorly in math- would Harvard rescind acceptance?

Hello, all. I was admitted to Harvard this spring and plan to attend. However, I have found myself in a less-than-favourable situation. I am taking linear algebra this trimester and my test scores have been terrible. There is a possibility that I might get something equivalent to a D+/C- (my school doesn’t use a 4.0 GPA grading system). I did very well in multivariable calculus during the first two trimesters, so this would be a big dip in math. I don’t think I’ve been experiencing senioritis, as my grades in other classes are on par with my grades from years prior.

There are a few more upcoming assessments that will give me the opportunity to slightly bump up my grade, but I am wondering if getting what I have now as my final grade on my transcripts would be cause for concern.

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If I’m reading this right, your grades were better in the first two trimesters. I suspect the college will look at the grade for the class over the year and they they wouldn’t rescind over a D in your last trimester, unless the grade for the whole year is a D.

Have you been to see the teacher about how you can improve the grade? You need to go to extra help and maybe get a tutor to bring the grade up to a C. Ask your guidance counselor to work out how this can be approached with the college if you can’t bring up the grade. Generally, colleges don’t want to see D’s or F’s as the final grade. What is the college policy about this?

Can you withdraw from the class? I have no idea if that is possible but that is one idea to look into. Otherwise do anything you can do get it to at least a C. Have you been doing the work? It is hard to explain this dip after doing so well in difficult classes previously.

Call Harvard admissions today. You need to talk with your admissions officer ASAP. They will tell you what their policy is. I’m guessing they won’t rescind you even for a D—after all they accepted you for a reason and it is Linear Algebra— but you need to find out so you have as much time as possible to remedy the situation.

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First it is unlikely that a school would allow a student to withdraw this late in the year. Secondly, dropping a core course without approval from the college would be problematic as well.

I’d recommend the OP do everything possible (see teacher after class, get a tutor, use online resources etc.) to get the final grade up to a C.

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Thank you guys very much. I will be working to secure a C.

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Sounds good…and congratulations on Harvard!

So how did this finally work out? Did you get a C? Did Harvard rescind your admission?

Let’s not revive old threads. But to answer, they did not get rescinded. If the OP, who has been inactive for months, wants to add texture, they can PM me to reopen. Closing.