So, I am a senior who has already submitted my common app to around 17 colleges.
My schedule is as follows:
AP Computer
AP Calc AB
College Humanities
College Foundations of Business
College Economic History of US
College Elementary Chemistry
College Introduction to Writing
College Elementary Chemistry Laboratory
I missed 40 days of AP Calc AB and AP CS. I think I will get an A from AP Calc AB but I can’t say the same for AP CS. Would it be a wise decision to drop AP CS? In the additional comments section of my common app, I have stated that my grades were low due to missing 40 days of school… If dropping the class is a better option, would I need to notify the colleges? If so, how?
If you drop the class, you would need to notify the college(s). Email is fine. However, I would think long and hard before dropping the class; just because you may not get an A is not a good reason to drop.
Dropping a class is highly discouraged. I have a friend who was accepted ED who wanted to drop a class, but was told by his college to keep the class. So it’s a good idea to keep the class and try your best!
I agree with the above posters and I just want to add that it will look even worse to tell Stanford you dropped a class after you already sent your transcripts to them. Don’t drop any classes; it’s not worth the risk and 2nd semester grades don’t matter anyways.
AP CS is not a drop-dead requirement, so I’d be less concerned about dropping that than the math.
However, I agree that if you are talking about “I could get a B!!!” that is different than “I will likely get a C or D”.
I do not understand though - if you missed 40 days of school, already, assuming school started in August or September, weren’t you given time to make up the work? That is almost 50% of the time since the first week of September. Technically, you still should be making up work.
If you had a medical reason for missing school work, and had lingering effects, I would get my parents to call and demand sufficient time to make up the work. If you just flaked, that’s different.
I was out about the same amount of time as you each year in HS, and other than one teacher, every teacher developed a schedule for me to make up the work. And I did. That was before ADA.
The only reasonable excuse for low grades due to missing time is an ongoing medical condition (or lack of compliance with ADA by teachers), but note that might be considered when they decide if to admit you - whether you can handle a college courseload.
First of all, you have to email Stanford if you want to drop it.
If you have missed the 40 days for good reason (medical or similar), they may be more lenient. I’d call the admissions office. However, they will most likely simply make a note of your circumstances but recommend you keep the class (and by recommend they mean you have to do it if you want a reasonable shot).