I actually failed a class...

Applying to College
1

I’m a high school senior. I missed 50% of last semester due to an illness but pulled off all A’s except for AP Calc AB, which I failed with a D because I didn’t take some tests/quizzes. (The other classes had assignments I did while I wasn’t at school, but the math grade was 100% assessment-based. I didn’t have time to make up everything before the semester ended.)

My counselor will explain these circumstances in the midyear report. Meanwhile, I’m planning to drop the class and take AP Calc BC online because:

  1. I want to learn the material I missed and challenge myself. (I like math but will probably be a history major.)
  2. The calculus teacher is brand-new and an atrocious teacher.

I’m reasonably confident I can get a 5 on the AP exam, but of course it will be too late for college admissions.

Other than this, I have perfect grades and was deferred from Stanford REA.

Should I forget about being admitted by Stanford and the other selective schools?

Thank you all for your help… I’m really worried.

2

Just as a suggestion, I wouldn’t switch to BC if you’re already behind on AB content.

3

Wow that is a lot of missed days. It was a really serious illness right? If it was, why couldn’t you just make it up?

4

@TheAtlantic Thanks for the advice. I’m still deciding between AB and BC.

@OPENADMIN24 The semester already ended, so the teacher can’t go back and change grades. He’s not open to negotiation either.

5

Why didn’t you ask him or email him before? It honestly will look really odd to switch from AB to BC when you got a D in AB. My school doesn’t even offer BC.

6

@OPENADMIN24 I did update my teacher on what was going on, so he was aware. I made up some tests, but I was just sick all the way up to the end of the semester and there was too much to make up.

7

Your GC can explain that to Stanford and other schools. Your rank it already set in stone. I don’t think it will impact much if explained by the GC.

8

@lostaccount Thanks! This will drag my final rank down, but colleges won’t see that until later.

I’m just worried if this will really hurt my chances of getting in.

9

Getting deferred by Stanford is also a good sign to me that you are at least competitive. Stanford wouldn’t defer you if you weren’t a possible admit.