<p>I'm not sure that an essay that goes 'I learned the most from the only
class in which I got a C' is a winning approach. But an explanation
somewhere in the app (Additional Info) section may be useful, esp
if you were going through some adversity in your life at that time
(not suggesting that you make up an adversity for this purpose).
A homerun would be to get the teacher who gave you the C to write
a rec that goes something like this 'His/her grade in this class does
not reflect true ability ... ' and then talk about your positive contributions,
behaviors, qualities, abilities, possibilities etc.</p>
<p>A better way to lend credence to your application is to do well on a Math SAT II. They are not that hard to study for, so be sure to do the prep book.</p>
<p>I forgot to mention that I was .5 away from a B. Did the teacher bother to round-up my grade? Nope. No way am I getting a rec from him! </p>
<p>Regarding including it in an essay. I suppose I could write an essay about how I always take the most challenging roads in life no matter what I do and use the fact that I took the hardest math class and some other really good examples (non-academic).</p>
<p>Oy! that was frustrating I am sure. Don't dwell on it now...play to your strengths. Do the leg work with references and essays and stay positive. Attach to your Match Schools first and foremost. Hang in there..it is a nervewracking season of life.</p>
<p>I only have two "match" schools, the other are big reaches and I have no safeties. Again....there's my personality coming through again; always aiming high, taking the most difficult route. And even one of my match schools is a bit selective! I have a back-up plan though! And that is to take a gap year and return to Central America (no, I'm not from there nor Latin American); attend Spanish school there and volunteer again plus work on my non-profit organization. Retake my SATs and reapply to all the schools that rejected me.</p>
<p>Build a much stronger match school list. They also deliver top classroom educations and opportunities...get out there and visit their classrooms and talk to their students. Heavy duty reach school lists are a mistake for just about everyone, including people with perfect grades and test scores. Even if you improve your SATs in one year, it will still be true that you need a strong match school plan and can be rejected at every Reach School.</p>
<p>Yes, very true with everything you said.</p>
<p>BTW: The stats colleges post for average GPAs accepted. Are those weighted or unweighted or does it depend upon the school? For some schools, I see an average gpa of 4.0 -- so that has to be weighted. Other highly competitive schools, I see the avg. gpa is 3.8 - so I am thinking that it is not weighted.</p>
<p>Faline2: I am sure everyone knows someone who was rejected at one school, but accepted at another. First hand, I know this boy - got a 1550 on his SATs, 5's on every AP test (but never took an AP class because his school did not offer them), straight As, graduated No. 1 out of 500; applied to UVa - got rejected but got accepted to Harvard. By the way, he did play 2 sports, but really did nothing unusual nor did he have any hook. I was just puzzled why he got rejected from UVa (instate resident to boot!) but got into Harvard. I guess that is a good example of how someone with almost perfect scores can get rejected....anywhere!</p>
<p>I am not sure about the weighted question..probably some of the regulars know. But as a Virginia resident, it is awful to have a student like that in-state rejected. I can't guess why. I do know UVa weighs essays very heavily. But in this case..you would think his essays were good enough to interest Harvard? so who knows
My only message to you is don't sell so called Match Schools short...many of them are also glamorous, well funded places that make great impacts on their communities and also deserve a loyal following of alum and new students each year..one of the things we are wealthy In America with is fine universities. And doing quite well at a Match school can often lead to graduate study at a Reach some day.</p>
<p>Again, I agree with you. My match school is actually a highly respected private LAC.</p>
<p>worldhopper -
his essays could have been different, the UVA adcom could have been offended by the content - or been having a migraine - who knows. Or, your friend might have come off as a bit arrogant with UVA - assuming that he would be accepted and not trying as hard. We are all guessing.</p>
<p>Ohio Mom: Yes, you never know! On the other hand, my cousin got into UVA with a 1150 SAT score. Great all around kid, but nothing particularily unique nor outstanding to compensate for her SAT scores.</p>
<p>"So your point, randomperson, places an inordinate amount of importance on class rank which by your own admission is not computed by some schools."</p>
<p>Ok... well, I was trying to say that if class rank is calculated at your school, then it's easily more important than grades, since the entire concept of a "GPA" is so inconsistent between schools. If not... then grades (or some weird decile system or something) are all the admissions offices have.</p>
<p>you could just get your GC to mention it in their report about you.</p>
<p>dude go complain about that B, I mean cmon I have complained about every C, B, and A- I have gotten and they were all changed to A+ by the snap of a finger. All you have to do is threaten to sue for racism and bam it happens</p>
<p>
[quote]
have u guys seen the simpsons where Bart and Homer laugh at Lisa because shes gonna have to go to Stanford instead of an ivy league? lol thats funny
[/quote]
</p>
<p>When was this? I remember that Lisa had a nightmare about going to Brown University because of a grade slip (apparently, Groundskeeper Willie is an alumnus), and one about having to go to Vassar College because of a teacher's strike.</p>
<p>Hi, this is an interesting thread. I have to admit, I'm a bit confused about GPAs and rankings</p>
<p>My son goes to a rigorous public charter school held on a college campus. Their test scores are the highest in our area. There is a partnership with the college where students are able to take college classes that count for both college and high school credit.</p>
<p>His unweighted GPA is 3.9167 and his weighted GPA is 4.1009. These are not inflated grades. Getting a B average is considered good for this school and if you are getting As, you are working pretty hard for them. He has received one C in an upper division language class and a couple of Bs.</p>
<p>I believe he is ranked 4/70. Will that look funny? Having an unweighted GPA of 3.9+ yet ranked 4th??</p>
<p>I spoke to the 2 teachers today who are doing my evaluations. One teacher has already told me that I was the absolute hardest working person and most dedicated EVER. The second teacher said that I was by far the most exceptional student she ever had in 20 years of teaching. I don't know what my g.c. is going to say but my other rec is coming from my employer who also has a Phd. in psychology and to me that is like giving the adcoms a mental medical evaluation at no charge! My point is that I hope these high recs help overshadow my "C" in math. My grades are good (except for that nasty C and a few B's that I am not worried about), my ECs are strong. Now, I've just got to work on (probably will be short of a miracle) getting my SAT score up there. </p>
<p>Okay, I know this is a really shallow question... but does having a very influential surname help if indeed you are part of "the family" and not just have the same last name. Like if your last name is Trump, would the adcoms know that you are a real Trump or do they think that is just a common name. I'm just curious.</p>
<p>BTW: I wasn't trying to brag about my recs; because I know there r probably tens of thousands that are going to have excellent recs as well. I was just pointing out that for ME and only me - they are good considering my "C" in that math class. That's all.</p>