Failing a class on purpose.

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi everyone!</p>

<p>So, second semester Junior year is almost over and I have my first C (actually, my first "any grade below an A").</p>

<p>Here's my transcript...</p>

<p>Freshman Year
(AP) Environmental Science: A-/A+
(AP) Human Geography
(H) Algebra II w/ Trig: A/A-
(H) English I: A+/A+
(P) Spanish II: A/A
(P) Physical Education: A/A</p>

<p>Summer: Physical Education II: A</p>

<p>Sophomore Year
(AP) Biology: A/A
(AP) European History: A-/A
(AP) Computer Science: A/A
(H) English II: A+/A
(H) Math Analysis: A-/A
(H) Spanish III: A/A</p>

<p>Junior Year
(AP) Chemistry: A/A+
(AP) United States History: A/A
(AP) English Language: A/A-
(AP) Calculus bc: A+/A
(AP) Spanish Language: A/A-
(AP) Art History: A/A-
(P) Neuroscience: A-/C-</p>

<p>SAT Score sits at 2250
Subject tests are in World, US History, Chemistry, English Literature, Biology M, and Math II ranging from 720 (literature) to 800 (chemistry, bio M, Math II, US History). My average is a 770.</p>

<p>Anyway, I'm currently ranked 1/280 with four other people (top private school in CA); but, if I get a C- (which I will), I'll be ranked ~30/280 (average GPA here is approx a 4.1. People test in to get into my school).</p>

<p>Should I get a D in Neuroscience? I really slacked off in that class this semester, I'm so stressed.
If I get a D, I can make it up and replace it with an A, keeping me Valedictorian! </p>

<p>How would colleges view this? Especially Berkeley and the Ivy Leagues? Neuroscience (P) is the hardest course at my school. On my AP tests, I've gotten all 5s besides Calc ab (I self studied b and took it during MA); I got a 3 on it. I took 7 classes this year, and the hardest ones. Please, some advice?</p>

2

<p>If you didn’t get an A this time what makes you think you can get one next time?</p>

3

<p>Well, one thing that hits me right away is, thank goodness I’m not trying to get into college these days . . . I was exhausted and stressed just reading your post. But good for you!</p>

<p>Anyhoo, I don’t really see any benefit to taking an F in the class. Note that the top schools reject plenty of applicants who have “perfect” grades and “perfect” test scores. Your acceptance/rejection is based on a lot more than one grade in one class. </p>

4

<p>Berkeley and the Ivy leagues would look at it as a D. You will still be making the course up at the time you submit applications, so even if you DID get an A, the colleges would not see it until after decisions had been made (you note that the C is in the second semester, so that is the semester you would be making up). In addition, being Valedictorian will have NO impact on your admission decision as it is announced after decisions have been made. All the colleges will see is your end-of-junior-year ranking which will be even lower with a D than it would be with a C.</p>

<p>A foolish plan.</p>

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<p>I’d make it up over the summer, and Ace the class. My school’s would see my #1, @alamemom!</p>

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<p>At your school, do they replace the old grade if you take the class again, or do both grades show on your transcript? If it’s the later, then the damage is done. I’m assuming they replace it though (just by the sound of your post, correct me if I’m wrong), so I see no harm in retaking it. Good luck!</p>

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<p>I know, but would colleges want me to fail it? Or pass with a C?</p>

<p>And yes, they do replace it! But the colleges know</p>

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<p>Pass with a C. No college is going to reject you for 1 C. You have good grades and if you’re rejected from any school, it won’t be because of a C or a couple of B’s. </p>

9

<p>^^^^ exactly. Take the C.</p>

<p>Not to mention that you do not want to put your principal into the position of having to justify a valedictorian who earned a D grade and then converted it into a better one over the summer. I can just see a whole lot of ugly coming from that.</p>

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<p>I agree with happymomof1. I’d rather see someone mature enough to accept the consequences of his/her mistakes than someone who tries to manipulate the system (even though that seems to be the new American way…) Second chances are for those who deserve them. You admit that you are responsible for the poor grade by failing to make any effort.</p>

<p>Thousands of students with 4.+ GPAs and excellent test scores are rejected every year by Ivy’s, even those who are valedictorians. You will not be rejected for a C, but because there are too many good students to accept them all. Keep your honor and your C. And if you have time to lower the grade to a D, you also have time to bring it up a bit.</p>

<p>And if you can take that class over the summer at a community college, that grade would also go with your applications to show that you can master the material.</p>

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<p>That rule is undoubtedly there for those kids who repeatedly get D’s and F’s, not the potential class valedictorian. It’s cleaver people who manipulate and twist the rules that lead to all the crappy regulations we have in the real world. Just watch what happens if you do this, they’ll eliminate the rule in the future, or they’ll say that both grades have to be counted, which is what they do for med school admissions. Or perhaps they’ll just keep the rule, but rule that anyone who repeats a class is ineligible for valedictorian. Or, they could detect what you’re doing and change the rule right in the middle of it all, and you’ll gain nothing. Anyone can have a bad class, it’s the long term trend they’re looking at - just suck it up and take the highest grade you can get.</p>

<p>One final thought - manipulating the valedictorian race is likely to cause a whole lot of bad feelings, and those can come out in letters or recommendation. Don’t know if you get to see yours, but any one of them, including your GC could write about how you manipulated the system, and that would likely torpedo any shot you had at whatever elite schools you’re shooting for.</p>

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<p>Interesting that your classes for this year do not come close to matching the classes you said you were taking in your other threads…</p>

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<p>To answer briefly: colleges will see your year average (or care about your year average). So, A-/C- will result in a B. At worst, a B- for the year. And, tragedy: you’ll have a B- for the year… No. :slight_smile:
The colleges won’t care if you got one B- as a final grade.
Instead of worrying about this, focus on finding two safety schools you like and can afford. They MUST have 40°% admission rates to qualify and not only must you have run the NPCs but also shown the results to your parents to make sure they’re willing to pay.
Most of all: this summer, have fun. Learn how to juggle, to surf, to climb trees. Become a professional secret-house-builder for the neighbordhood’s little kids. Read everything Chris Cutcher or Sarah Dessen ever wrote. Teach someone how to swim, or waterski. Become a docent at a local museum (put that Ap Art History to good use!)
When Stanford and Yale ask you to write a short answer about your summer they don’t want to read “I decided to fail a class and had to retake it in summer school.”
Start exploring colleges. Go visit a bunch of them, whether they interest you or not, and look for the thing you like best about them. Take pictures and make a “college tour” blog out of it. :slight_smile: Request brochures from colleges and read them.You have your dream schools, now it’s time to find the matches and safeties (and for a high-stats kid, it’s really hard, so the earlier you get to it and the funner you make it, the better for you.)
Finally, does AP Art History count for your (g) requirement for UCB?</p>

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<p>@kkmama, This profile is used with several people (my oldest brother, my younger brother, and several friends). If you continue looking you’ll see this point addressed. lol</p>

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<p>And yes, @myos.</p>

<p>I really like the community college idea!</p>

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<p>I believe sharing an account is against CC rules?</p>

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<p>At schools like the Ivies aren’t gonna like that C anyway but they’re gonna dislike a D to an A even more since it’d be pretty obvious you tried to game the system. If you can’t bring that C to a B I’d just take the C and hope for the best. When schools are so competitive and 4.0s get rejected all the time that C is going to hurt you quite a bit but the D is even worse.</p>

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<p>Someone else deserves to be Valedictorian. You slacked off. They didn’t. </p>

<p>You know what? Who cares. </p>

<p>You’re addicted to achievement, which is very immature. Grow up. </p>

<p>If you don’t work to make your life richer and more meaningful than petty achievements, colleges will see right through you as we all do. </p>

<p>Do your best and get the C. It won’t kill you. It’s ok to mess up every so often. You won’t be relegated to community college. I guarantee that the sun will rise again, and the birds will still sing. </p>

<p>Nothing significant changes that you can’t fix later in life. </p>

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<p>Yes, sharing an account violates the CC rules.</p>

<p>OP, you should set up your own account.</p>

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<p>When CC restores the features and functionality of the site, we can resume paying attention to their rules. Keeping faith is a two way street.</p>

<p>Sorry for being off topic but really.</p>