<p>The whole point of AP classes is not to ‘ramp up’ students but to give students who need a more rigorous challenging environment in HS access to those classes. Until the OP and the son figure out why he bombed this particular AP class there really isn’t much to discuss other than the original question of how will this affect his college chances…the answer to that is that it is difficult to say. Whether it should be a D or a C or a C-…only the teacher can answer that question… The OPs son will be “judged” by unis and colleges for lack of a better word on the entire transcript and resume and essay and national test scores in the context of the OP’s son’s peers at his high school. If I were the parent and those were the three schools as I said earlier I would certainly tell him to apply to all three. Why not? Don’t we “preach” reach, match, safety every day?</p>