This year I am taking 5 AP’s, and I am not handling the workload well at all. I do not understand AP Physics C at all, and it is taking a toll on my grades. I may end up with a C this semester. Last semester, I ended up with 2 B’s. This semester, worst case, I may end up with one C and 2B+. Would that affect my admission?
Here is what the Swarthmore website says, which does not sound lenient to me :
“Swarthmore College places strong emphasis on academic achievement and personal character. An offer of admission to Swarthmore College is dependent on a student maintaining his or her standard of academic achievement before enrolling at the College. An offer of admission is also dependent on a student’s continued demonstration of character and high standards for personal conduct. Lapses in either category may be grounds for rescinding an offer of admission.”
I have read about other posts on this subject, but did anyone ever hear about Swarthmore rescinding seniors due to a “significant” change in grades (while still passing all the classes)?
I’ve heard two categories of people who get in trouble for their grades, and you fit neither: “No D’s, F’s, or Felonies” and the whole “Can’t spell calculus without two C’s” (I believe William & Mary coined that phrasing?) but yea it would be unheard of for you to be rescinded over one C. At worst, you might get a letter asking you to explain yourself but even that would surprise me, and if it does happen just be candid and remorseful with them. Do know, however, that Swarthmore has a reputation for being an extremely tough school and so if you’re struggling now you might have to up your game a bit when you arrive in the Fall.
Two years ago, a CC user screwed up and got two D’s his last semester after being admitted ED to Dartmouth. Dartmouth suspended its offer while also working out a plan for the student to get on track. He did, spent the year off wisely, enrolled in 9/15 and has now successfully completed his first year. http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/19627408#Comment_19627408
@roonaz, I am sure you have no reason to be worried. No doubt someone has been rescinded for academic reasons. I know that two kids at our school were rescinded from Hamilton for succumbing to senioritis, and it must happen elsewhere. The policy must be in place for a reason. I don’t think you should be overly concerned about being rescinded, but be prepared to work very hard while you are there. Take full advantage of tutoring and professor’s office hours. I understand that freshmen take the first semester on a pass fail basis, but you want to be fully ready for when the grades kick in. Good luck.
Also heard that those pass/fail courses are assigned shadow grades which can appear later – I heard about some frustration that they either show up for grad school apps or somewhere else, to the student’s surprise. So just because the grades don’t “seem” to be there doesn’t mean a student should sleep through class. . . .
Those “shadow grades” DO NOT show up elsewhere, and I wish people would stop pushing this idea. I have 2 sons who graduated from Swarthmore. One went into a Ph.D program and one is going to an M.D. program. They cannot use those “shadow” grades in calculating their GPA’s even if they wanted to.
Actually, all grades show up in medical and law school admissions, pass/fail or other. They do not show up elsewhere, including graduate school and fellowships.
^^^Correct, if you mean CR/NC (Credit/No Credit) for first year, first semester grades as opposed to the actual letter “shadow” grades. For people new to this idea. the concept for first year, first semester is that freshmen see what they would have received in the course. This allows them a semester to get used to the workload and expectations at Swat. If a student withdrew from a course at any point, that “W” would also show up on a transcript.