<p>Hey everyone! I have a huge problem. I have submitted all of my common apps to every single school and two problems arose. First, I am ending with a 'C' in calculus (a class with no weighting) for the first quarter. I gave it my all, but I could not raise the grade to a 'B'. In my other classes I have almost all 'A's' even in two A.P.'s and a 'B' in one A.P except for Calculus. How much will that hurt my chances of admission? Secondly, I forgot to put the name of the company I have worked for since freshmen year down on the common app! It just says Intern for an international exporting company, and I completely forgot to write the name of the company down!
How screwed am I?</p>
<p>Not at all, relax. </p>
<p>No, you’re not: (1) the company’s name is probably “admissions inconsequential” (and if a school wants it, they’ll likely ask) and (2) there are 2000+ undergraduate institutions in the US (a “C” in calculus will hardly preclude your matriculation at almost any of them). </p>
<p>I know the entire college decision, application and selection process is the BIGGEST independent challenge you’ve ever encountered, but please try to relax. Hundreds-of-thousands of people (very much like you) survive and thrive through this process annually . . . and they have been doing so for generations. In the long run, I know you’ll find that you’re a good deal more anxious about “all things admissions” than is necessary. That’s not a criticism; virtually all of us were. However, it is the basis for my suggestion that you relax. </p>
<p>Well you have the grades to go to college but if you only applied to Harvard and Stanford then you may be out of luck. As long as you have a safety school you are good. Are quarter grades reported or is it just semester? Keep working. Naming the company would have been nice but it is not a huge deal. </p>
<p>What is your college list? If you have followed the most common advice given on CC to apply to reaches, matches and safeties, your grades should not matter.</p>
<p>The time for worry is when you still have some control over the outcome. That time has passed. My advice is to put as much of this out of your mind as you can. Your only concern with regard to college is to keep your grades up. So forget that C and do your best for the rest of the semester. Other than that, enjoy your senior year, enjoy your friends, and enjoy your family. </p>
<p>Wow, thanks for the quick replies!
To address some questions:
Most of my schools are safety/target schools, Northeastern and Syracuse being my top two.
I know some schools require you to send in first quarter grades, and almost all require mid-year and final reports.
I know not to worry about the company as much based on your replies
Do any of you think it will hurt my chances just because I got one ‘C’ in the first quarter?</p>
<p>Let me convince you that Northeastern and Syracuse will not worry about one C.</p>
<p>I have even heard of kids who got a final grade of a D in a class, and though Harvard rescinded their acceptance, they went to another Ivy. And that was a D for the whole year and I daresay the student didn’t have a high GPA to begin with. </p>
<p>Go have a nice long chat with your guidance counselor. Find out which of the places on your current list have never rejected an applicant from your high school who had a GPA and exam scores like yours. If your counselor cannot tell you that at least one place has accepted every applicant like you, then you’ve got nothing very safe on your list. If some of the places have accepted everyone, then chances are that it’s likely you will be too.</p>
<p>If you want more security, start looking around for a “true safety” that flat-out guarantees admissions for students with your GPA and test scores. Then pop a quick application off to that college/university.</p>
<p>For some people, CC or extension school can be a safety. Or a gap year.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t stress.</p>
<p>If you’re only applying ED/RD, some schools also have an EA deadline of Nov. 15. Put one of those in to a school you’re likely to be accepted to and you’ll have a definite yes by Dec. 15. That will take a lot of the stress off. A rolling admission school will accomplish the same thing</p>