HELP! D in AP Calculus First Semester!

<p>So I'm freaking out. </p>

<p>I'm an IB student. I'm a senior. I'm taking the most rigorous courseload offered at my school. My average GPA is a 4.1 and unweighted it's a 3.7 (up to junior year). My weighted GPA first semester senior year is 4.0 and unweighted it's 3.2. I just got a D in AP Calculus. I applied to UCLA, UCB, UCR, and UCSD. How does this affect my chances at those schools? And what should I do? Should I send a letter explaining the grade? Please, help! I really don't want to get rejected. With the D grade, I have a 4.0 weighted GPA out of a 4.8 weighted GPA possible.</p>

<p>HELP!</p>

<p>BTW, I'm not a math person. I applied as a history major.</p>

<p>Yes, write a letter. Don't blame the teacher. Try to sound mature-- explain what the problem is and how you plan to address it 2nd semester. (Have you lined up some tutoring?) Also, talk to your guidance counselor and explain-- again, sounding positive. If the schools were interested in you, they may call to the counselor to find out what happened. Meanwhile, redouble your efforts to do better in this class. The schools may be interested in your 3rd quarter grades. (If you bring it up to a B- or above, send the 3rd quarter grades in voluntarily.)</p>

<p>Unfortunately, I'm in the same situation as you! =(
I have a D/F in Pre-Calculus and I think I bombed the final too. I applied to UCSD, UCI, UCD, & UCR. I really want to attend UCSD but unfortunately I won't be able to attend any of the UC's with a D/F in Pre-Calculus. I never failed a class in high school! My overall GPA is a 3.7 weighted GPA =(
So, to answer your question..yes it will definitely hurt the chances of you getting in any of the UC's. UC's are becoming extremely competitive especially UCSD, UCLA & UCB.
If you can make up the class, go do it!! Talk to your counselor about what you should to do. That's what I'm going to do! You should transfer out of AP Calc if you can!!</p>

<p>If you are taking IB why are you taking AP Calculus?
I have friends who do IB and they all take like IB HL math and don't take APs</p>

<p>I'm taking AP Calculus because I'm taking the standard level math test but my school doesn't offer IB Math SL. So basically AP Calculus is the equivalent of IB Math SL. Whereas everyone in IB Math HL are all taking the higher level exam.</p>

<p>Yeah, AP seems to be more popular among the math courses. My school has two APs left- AP calc AB/BC all other classes are AICE. Its the same with neighboring schools also.</p>

<p>i am finding myself in a similar situation. </p>

<p>i bombed AP Chem. i got a B in 1st quarter, but a C in 2nd quarter and a D on the midterm. </p>

<p>taking AP Chem was the worst mistake of my life thus far. i could have just taken another AP like Macroeconomics, gotten an A, and still have maintained a high weighted GPA and rigorous courseload. </p>

<p>i feel like my chances at Ivies have just tanked.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Yes, write a letter. Don't blame the teacher. Try to sound mature-- explain what the problem is and how you plan to address it 2nd semester. (Have you lined up some tutoring?) Also, talk to your guidance counselor and explain-- again, sounding positive. If the schools were interested in you, they may call to the counselor to find out what happened. Meanwhile, redouble your efforts to do better in this class. The schools may be interested in your 3rd quarter grades. (If you bring it up to a B- or above, send the 3rd quarter grades in voluntarily.)

[/quote]

thanks, that's some good advice that applies to me also.</p>

<p>It's quite possible that the top UCs would revoke your admission. From an article in the LA Times
[quote]
At Eagle Rock High School in Los Angeles, college counselor Stephen Williams recalled a student two years ago whose acceptance to UCLA was revoked because of a D in advanced placement calculus. A graduate of Lancaster High School recalled how he got a D in advanced placement calculus in the fall of his senior year and then dropped the class for the second semester. As a result, UCLA, his dream school, canceled his acceptance, although UC San Diego, where he just finished his freshman year, did not.</p>

<p>UCLA already has revoked about 25 freshman admissions in recent weeks and expects to withdraw about 90 by midsummer as final high school transcripts arrive for its expected 4,600 freshmen, according to Vu T. Tran, director of undergraduate admissions. UCLA reviews each case individually and may show leeway if the trouble is with just one course and there are mitigating factors. </p>

<p>San Diego State is taking a tough stance. Before 1999, the popular campus allowed admitted students to attend summer school if they earned a D or lower in a high school class required by the Cal State system. But no more. Beverly Arata, director of admissions, said she expects to revoke about 2% of the 5,400 who were planning to enroll as freshmen and redirect them to less-crowded Cal State campuses or community colleges.
No</a> slack for student slackers - Los Angeles Times

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Sorry for bringing this thread up again, but I found a lot of the information relevant.
Unfortunately, I’m experiencing the very same situation this year, in 2010 ):</p>

<p>I just got my report card with a D in Lit, I’m going to try and see if I can cut some sort of a deal/beg my way to a C, but even then I’m screwed either way. My other grades are fine though, though lower, I only have 2 A’s and the other 2 are B’s this sem. I think I definitely hurt my chances for PRIVATES (2nd tier…Northwestern, Emory, Rice, NYU, CMU, etc) this semester, probably not going to get into any of them. Hopefully UCs will be my savior…and hopefully I can get that D raised…we’ll see…</p>

<p>So aside from writing a letter and perhaps sending out extra transcripts with (hopefully) All A’s for the first/second marking periods (our school has 4 total) , is there anything else I can do? </p>

<p>I’m desperate here and realize that I just screwed myself over, hard because basically I’ve been dicking around and really should have gotten All A’s or very close to it this semester…</p>

<p>bump.im in this situation too, but my class is calculus through college not high school</p>

<p>A “D” is not good, your admission could possibly be revoked, or if not accepted yet could tip a rejection. In all, I’m sure at the least one UC will not revoke an admission/ tip to a rejection.</p>

<p>Try to do well this semester and send in updated grades if they mail you something about revoking admissions. If you’re doing well, they might reconsider not revoking your admission.</p>

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<p>I wish I would’ve taken AP chem in hindsight. I’m a freshman in college and if you’re doing anything related to math and science, you will have to take it or use AP credit. Except now instead of 20 people in a class- there’s 100 of us.</p>

<p>What happens if you never notify the college ahead of time that you got a D grade senior yr first semester, and just let final transcripts go through? If you get a B or something second semester, would that mitigate the D…? (Is it okay to not email UCSD about the 1st semester D grade?)</p>