Hello everyone,
About a month ago, I posted about my C+ in Chem and 2 B+ in others in my junior year with all A’s before and how this would affect my chances for Stanford/MIT/Ivys. However, something amazing happened. On the last day of school, my AP Chem teacher stopped me and requested to write one of my recs for college. I was appalled because this teacher only says yes to few people who ask HER to write their recs, let alone her asking ME. She said that there are tons of really great stuff she could write about in her rec compared to some of her students who got B’s and A’s. She saw that I tried my best but ultimately didn’t do as well at the end. She will obviously talk about that outlier C+ grade of mine and
So I’m wondering, how much would this help my chances for these colleges? I got a 780 on the SAT2 but a 4 on the AP(ahhhhh :P)
Rest of my stats and ecs:
-My weighted GPA would be around 4.27-4.28 and my unweighted GPA would be around 3.78 by the end of my junior year (Northern VA).
-Over 600 hours of volunteer work in 3 years directing a mini computer coding lab for tweens
-All 5s in APCS, World History, Micro, Macro.
-Already started on my college essays and perfecting them as I go, I’m sure they’ll all be stellar
-2 internships at different companies overseas, one of which I am working for right now and another internship at a tech company here in the US
-Have an online paid programming job and tutoring in Chem and Physics since the beginning of junior year
-Part of multiple scientific clubs, leaders in 3 of them, FHS, NHS…
-TWO research projects on robotics/artificial intelligence
-TWO technology certifications: Oracle Java SE 7 Programmer Certified Professional and Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist
-4 languages, diversity, cultured, blah blah
-International Student
-Hooks: First Gen, Research
-More things I can give if requested… Thanks for all of your help CC!
Oh and yes, my ACT score is 34 Combined with math being 36 and the rest 32-34!
Expecting 2250+ on the SAT hopefully on October 
And one last question, if I apply regular decision, will colleges see my senior year grades? I’m expecting them to be all A’s. Thanks CC!
This is awesome 
I wish this would have happened with my issue (we PMed about it before). This is the best that could happen given the situation. Everythings gonna be a reach but you’re definitely in the running (especially because of your school)
Your teacher is sure to write a stellar recommendation. If you got a C+ in her class, and she asks you, no matter how strict she is about recommendations, this is good news.
Could you share with us the online tutoring program you taught in?
There is no better way to explain an aberration on a transcript than to have the teacher write a solid letter of recc. Nice job
Wow. a C+ is still a decent grade for an AP class. What do you have to lose? Just have her write one and see if its good, if not just throw it away and not send it.
If that’s the case, then you’re sure to get a stellar recommendation. Way to go!
@university89 you aren’t allowed to read your recs (you’re not supposed to, and I know for a fact that this person will most like not be allowed to- its pretty much required in schools in their area). You specifically have to waive that right on the common app and some schools wont consider a rec if you don’t waive your rights. Also, a C+ is not a good grade for an AP class… its not a good grade for any class.
Congrats again, you’ll be fine!
Sometimes recs are not about how well you did in class but how well the teacher knows you and what they saw in terms of your abilities and dispositions as a student. Definitely get the rec. As far as the impact of the grades… junior year classes are a big jump from soph year, particularly AP classes. Having a dip in grades junior year (your Bs and C) even with strong first semester senior grades, will have an impact. If there are some extenuating circumstances that affected you that year, that might mitigate the situation, but otherwise, I would take that into account when pulling together your list.
Really, a teacher emailed me my rec and i was able to read it.
A C+ can still be good depending on the teacher and course. Theres a a dual credit class in my high school where the average grade is a C, and an A is nearly impossible. The teacher even admitted an A is nearly impossible.
Thank you everyone for your helpful posts. I suppose I have done everything I can at this point. The only thing left are my senior year grades. Do colleges see your senior year grades when you apply regular decision? Thanks again everyone!
Woandering, I teach programming to both teenagers in late middle school to high school and to adults who currently have jobs and are trying to widen their skills. I have been teaching voluntarily at this religious institution(church?, mosque?, synagogue? … don’t want to say exactly which one ) since the beginning of my freshmen year when I was introduced to programming at my high school. I borrowed what was being taught to my class and I at that time and instructed all my pupils (haha xD) the exact same thing (like jKarol, karol.beep, karol.turnLeft, stuff like that). I was able to start this program thanks to the kind donations given by fellow (again, Christians?, Muslims?) who live in my area and regularly come to this religious institution. I have been teaching ever since. I never though about doing this for college, no not at all. I just had LOTS of free time and wanted to do something useful. My friend only jokingly told me about using this for college last year, about the time when we were being introduced to college applications.
Yes, they will take first semester senior year grades into account if you are applying regular decision. The only exception is if you are applying rolling or early admission