Explaining a grade

Applying to College
1

Hey CC, I am currently a senior in high school, and I got a really bad grade in a class.
I was previously in English IV AP, and i was absent for a day an assignment was due that said “turn in college essay prompt” so I took it literally and turned in a “college essay prompt”. Turns out it was supposed to be a written essay, so my teacher gave me two zeros (double daily=two zeros in grade book). I went and explained this to her but she would not change the grade, I ended up with a 66 the first 9 weeks (half way through the semester) so I decided to drop down to the regular level class. I got a good an 90 in the second 9 weeks, but the grade averaged out to be a 78.
So it looks like I got a C in a regular class :C

This is the first time I’ve taken a regular class if there was an AP credit.

How can I explain this to college admissions counselors?

I was deferred from a top university, will they see this on my mid-year report and decide to drop me?

Should I even take time to explain the grade?

Thank you!

(I know it seems juvenile but I am worrying myself to death, anything would help thanks again)

2
  1. You can try to explain it, but definitely leave out the details about the assignment. Say your schedule was challenging and you decided to drop to regular English, and the grade is an average, but you received a 90 in the new class.
  2. They will see it on your mid-year report. There's a non-zero chance they'll rescind, but it's unlikely with just one C.
  3. I wouldn't try to explain it, no.
3

If you drop out of an AP to a lower level class you should notify schools you applied to. Talk to your guidance counselor.

4

Ok, thank you so much! :slight_smile: