How will retaking a high school class affect my chances in the selection process?

Let’s say you’re a pretty excellent student: high GPA, lots of APs, solid extracurriculars, good SAT scores, etc. but there was that one time in sophomore year when you overestimated your ability to take Honors Pre-Calc and received a D in the class. But you retook the class and got an A the second time around. This replaced the D in your GPA, but alas it left your permanent transcript forever tainted. Say you’re applying to a UC or a higher tier college with phenomenal personal essays and an otherwise squeaky clean app… up until the admission officer sees your D from soph year. How big of an impact will this wretched D have (even though you retook the class and made up for it)? I’m concerned that my single poor decision as a sophomore will ruin any chance of getting into a good school. Will it???

UCs have their own special rules. Thoughts, @ucbalumnus?

Personally I would think exacty what you said,…you tried to take Precalc early and didn’t do well. Then you took it again and did well.
Have you taken Alg 1, Alg2 and Geometry?

Read this: It addresses retaking classes:
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/q-and-a/repeating/index.html#2

What are the rules on repeating courses?
For freshman applicants, a grade of C or better is required to meet a subject requirement. D and F grades are not acceptable and must be cleared by repeating a class, completing advanced work in the same subject area of sequential knowledge (math or language other than English) or attaining certain minimum scores on SAT, AP or IB examinations .

There is no limit to the number of courses applicants may repeat. The University of California does not accept pass/fail grades for freshman admission.

If a student repeats a course used to satisfy the “a-g” requirements in which they originally earned a grade of C or higher, the repeated grade will not be used in calculating the GPA.

For transfer applicants, a course may be repeated if the student received a grade of D or F. UC does not limit the number of times a transfer student may repeat a course in which they earned a D or F. A student may not retake a course at a community college to raise a grade received at a UC campus. UC courses in which a D or F was received may be repeated only at a UC campus.

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When a student successfully repeats a course that they failed the first time, how should the school and the student report the two courses?
The student must self-report the grades for both courses on the application, and the University will determine which course and grade will be used in the GPA calculation. Schools should follow their own or their district’s policy in recording grades.

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May a student who receives a C in an “a-g” course in the ninth grade repeat the course in the 10th grade and try for a higher grade?
No. A student may only repeat a course in which a D or an F was earned. In this case, if the student repeated the course and earned an A or a B, the higher grade would not be counted.

As shown in post #2 thanks to @bopper, your D will no impact on your chances at the UC’s since you have repeated the course with an A grade. Although you have to report both grades, only the A will be used in the UC GPA calculation so you should be fine.