Dropped an AP class after first semester. Did I just screw myself over? Or am I okay?

Applying to College
1

I have heard A LOT of differing opinions about this and I AM DONE.

PLEASE GIVE ME A STRAIGHT ANSWER.

I have been accepted to:

UT AUSTIN- Major of Psychology (Bachelors in Science)
TEXAS TECH-Microbiology, Honors College
BAYLOR-Psychology<—I cant go here unless I get a scholarship
OSU- Microbiology, Honors College<—I cant go here, my parents said its too much money
I am still waiting on A&M and honestly feel like im just gonna get Blinn’ed an option I wouldn’t even take if there was a gun to my head.

MY stats are:
Hispanic, Female, First-Gen
ACT: 29
GPA:4.8
No class rank, but 2nd quarter because my school is VERY competitive.
LOTs of ECs,:over 200 hrs of volunteer work, Leaderships positions across the board, two honor societies, 5+ clubs, I made my own club at my old elementary school and am currently VP of a club at my school. I can send screenshots of my apps if anyone needs proof.

AP classes:(they are on my transcript as all A’s but I have not sent in scores yet because of the two unqualified scores that I’m afraid will hurt me)
AP Eng Lang-4
APUSH-4
AP World-4
AP Human Geo-2
AP Physics 1-3
AP Latin Vergil-1

Heres my bit. I’ve paid my deposit at UT and want to go there. I know for a scholarship from Baylor which I probably wont get on March 1st. I need to get my deposits back from Tech and OSU but am afraid too because of the situation I’m about to tell you.

My senior schedule at the beginning of the year:
AP LIT
AP Chem
AP Psych
AP Calc AB
AP Physics 2
Anatomy and Physiology
Forensic Science
Senior Release 8th per
My schedule when I applied to college (Calc is gone but I never said I did it on apps but its on my transcript??? ahhhhh!!!):
AP LIT
Ap CHem
AP Psych
AP Physics 2
Anatomy and Physiology
Forensic Science
Library Aide
Senior Release
MY schedule now(Dropped AP chem):
AP LIT
AP Psych
AP Physics 2
Anatomy and Physiology
Forensic Science
Library Aide
Senior Release x2
p.s. I took Gov and Econ online.

I have never. Ever. dropped classes until this year. I honestly should have seeing as I have a mix of A and Bs and one annoying C that was a 79.4. My transcript shows two classes as incomplete. I have completed all my science and math credits before senior year and I thats why the counseling let me drop the two courses that I did.

does having dropped AP chem at the end of the first semester, (even if I was going to totally completely, utterly, absolutely, without a shadow of a doubt, despite NUMEROUS funds poured into tutoring and study books FAIL WITH A BIG FAT F) put me up for admissions being rescinded?

Here is what I have heard from the DO NOTHING side: “They already know because midyear transcripts were automatically sent and they don’t care”- a counselor who worked at my school a year ago(they may have changed it???). “Don’t rock the boat.” -my parents “UT is too big to care” -college confidential “As long as you graduate and don’t fail your classes you’re fine”-my friends who are seniors

Here is what I’ve heard from the TELL THEM NOW side: Sally Rubenstone of this forum said I could get rescinded but that I might be ok. Numerous websites say I could be totally screwed. Two out of 14 friends(who are also first-gen college so what do they know???)say that I should tell them.

2

Here are my comments:

  1. You really should have checked with the colleges BEFORE you dropped the classes/changed your schedule. But all you can do now is move forward.

  2. Definitely tell ALL of the colleges NOW. Be sure they have your entire updated schedule. The college you decide to attend will get your final transcript and see that changed your schedule from the time you applied so it is better to get out in front of it. If admissions officer says it is OK that you changed your schedule, get it in writing (an email is OK). If the admission officer says that that dropping/changing the classes will cause them to re-visit your application politely ask for a time-frame of when can expect to get an answer.

3

Remember when you submitted your applications on the CommonApp? Before it allowed you to submit you had to check a couple of boxes off. In one of those boxes, you agreed to tell colleges about anything that changes during senior year (like your schedule) or disciplinary stuff like if you got suspended. Of course, colleges will find out about a suspension from your GC, just like they will find out about your dropped classes from your midyear transcript, but wouldn’t you rather have them find out about this stuff from you directly? Especially because you did technically agree to let them know. Ignoring it and waiting for them to find out on their own gives a pretty bad impression. Of course, you probably should have talked to them before dropping the class too see if they were OK with it, but now you should email and let them know, and discuss why you dropped the class. Don’t stay silent about it and wait for them to rescind you! Take action!

4

You need to tell the schools you dropped. Tell them now. Better to be pre-emptive.

IMO dropping a class when you had an A and dropping the class because you had a C tells two very different stories. I’d be more concerned about the AP Calc confusion (you signed up to take it then decided to drop it before classes started ?) then the dropped AP Chem. With the two classes, it definitely looks like you are concealing something. And well frankly, you implied that you were taking a much harder schedule then you actually are…that doesn’t look good.I

I doubt you will be recinded, but it is possible. I think UT and Tech Honors are more likely to care than Baylor.

5

Thank you so much for the help! Being first-gen makes it difficult to know a lot about the processes and appreciate that you are taking out your time to give me an answer! :slight_smile:

@sciencenerd123 I used Applytexas and I was never told explicitly to tell them about changes(also UT doesn’t ask for midyears), and @labegg I never indicated on my apps that I was taking AP Calc AB but it still shows as 97 when I left it on my transcript, I left it because my teacher told me that since I took On-Level Precal that I would not be successful in the class.

I plan on calling UT first to see if I even need to worry about this. A student liaison at my school said today that worst case scenario, I would have to take a Chem course in the summer.<—I don’t know if that is 100% accurate.

How should I phrase my email? I’ve currently drafted it to address only AP Chem since I never indicated that I was taking Calc on my apps:

Hello and Good Evening,

I am contacting today to inform you of my decision to withdraw from the AP Chemistry course at the end of last semester. This class was on my senior courses when I submitted my application, but the class was not required for my graduation requirements as I have already completed several advanced science classes. I would like to take this opportunity to let you know that my decision to withdraw from this class was based on an extensive evaluation that I did not have the resources to be successful in the AP Chemistry program at my high school. This decision is not representative of my commitment to academic success and dedication to the field of science. In fact, I look forward to being able to participate in future Chemistry courses taught at UT Austin.

I am aware that pursuing the Psychology(Bspsy) major involves an interest in science and math. I still retain this interest with classes like Anatomy and Physiology, AP Physics 2, Forensics, and AP Psychology.

Thank you for your time and understanding.

Sincerely,

6

don’t take this personally, but it sounds overly formal and not the way adults would write one another even in a business situation.

“I am contacting today to inform you of my decision to withdraw from the AP Chemistry course at the end of last semester.” => “I withdrew from AP Chemistry at the end of last semester.”

I would change the 2nd sentence to say " This class was on my list of senior courses when I submitted my application, but the class was not required for my graduation requirements…" I’d add “I wanted to notify you in case this schedule change affects my admission.” And then end there.

Everything past your 2nd sentence doesn’t add much, IMHO. If they want to know why you dropped they will ask you. Much of the remaining stuff sounds like boilerplate or just irrelevant. They know you are keeping the other classes or else you would have said you dropped them.

7

AP Calc AB: so you started the class took it for a week or so (?) then dropped it. At the time of the drop you had a 97 your school did not remove it from your transcript and it currently shows you earned a 97? I think it is important that you address that (and why you dropped AP Chem) in your communication with the universities and have your guidance counselor explain the situation too. Because it would appear to anyone reading your official transcript that you are in the class and earning a great grade as of the date of the transcript. Regardless of whether you self reported it on your Apply Texas application or not, what is important is what appears on the official HS transcript. I think you need to get with your current HS GC and come up with the proper communucation. It can’t hurt you to have an official communication from your HS regarding your changes in schedule. Good Luck!