"I don't have time. That's why my grades are low"

Applying to College
1

Is that reasonable? Let’s say, you have EXTREME extra curriculars. sports, music, art, whatever, and it truly does take up 4-5 hours after school. And you get home at 9 oclock or something.

Could this be a reasonable explanation for bad grades (not terrible, just not good…i’m ranked 6/350, 7 Bs)? This is what’s happening to me. and if i mention this to interviewers, and mention that it is my greatest lesson that I’ve learned (time management), will they somewhat understand? Also, I KNOW I can handle my school work, I just can’t/don’t have time. I will tell the interviewers that.

2

<p>no it is not a reasonable explanation.. extracurriculars are not important if they cause your grades to drop</p>

<p>but in your case... 7 B's and rank 6 is nothing bad at all</p>

3

<p>Umm buddy, 7 Bs aren't bad and ranked 6 out of 350 is pretty good! The fact that you can keep all this up and maintain extra curriculars is even better. What kinda classes are you taking? and what kinda schools are you looking at?</p>

4

<p>they do not like excuses. Tell them why your ECs are a priority. BUT dont forget that your transcript the no.1 factor in the college admissions process.</p>

5

<p>I would recommend emphasizing ECs in an interview (since explaining why you care about them so much is usually a good indicator of personality and all of the other good stuff that the paper/online app can't convey) - but don't flat out say your ECs are why your grades could be better, just talk about how important your ECs are and why. I was ranked 5th or 6th in a class of 67 with 3 Bs that I got the semester after I transferred sophomore year, and I was accepted to Brown and Georgetown. If you are really passionate about your ECs and they are unique enough to get you noticed or you are just really, really good at them, that kind of devotion or originality will make up for less than perfect grades-- but keep the grades up :) Good luck!</p>

6

<p>Kali4niagrl, here's my transcript</p>

<p>it's really bad.
what's worse is my orchestra and summer shcool, and zero hour, which lowers my GPA.</p>

<p>Algebra II Summer School A
Human Behavior A</p>

<p>9th grade.
VB Programming A A
French I A A
Honors Lang A A-
WG (weighted grade) Algebra II/Trig A A-
Symphonic Orchestra A A
Biology A A-
Honors US History A- A
RANK: 5</p>

<p>Independent study, skipped Chemistray Semester 1 and 2. A A</p>

<p>10th grade.
AP Comp sci A A
French II A- A-
WG research language arts A A-
WG Precalculus A A-
AP Chemistry B- B (I skipped Chemistry, therefore, my base was bad)
AP European History B+ C+ (C+!!!!! This is unstable. inconcistency. BAD)
Advanced Chamber Orchestra A A
RANK: 4th!!</p>

<p>summer-Independent Study Skip class French III both semesters A A
health class A A summer school</p>

<p>Junior Year.</p>

<p>WG French IV A-
AP Lang A-
AP Calc B (I WILL GET A this semester, promise)
Symphonic Orchestra A
AP Bio A-
AP Gov B+
AP US History B-
RANk: 6 :( ...downhill trend.</p>

<p>i take 0 hours, orchestra, and HISTORY CLASSES (because I like history. BUT, it is my WEAKEST subject. I just love history, so i take it. 2 this year, 2 next year but next year will be easy history classes---is this stupid?)</p>

<p>summary:
1) I got the Bs because I suck at history
2) Dont have time to do Calc homework/study history as much as i wanted
3) The chemistry Bs, i't's reasonable, because i skipped regular chemistry</p>

<p>i do a lot of EC stuff. because I like the things I do. And that's why I never really have time. usually, i max out at 12 or 1 each night, and then drop dead</p>

7

<p>what should i say to colleges (how to explain why i do so bad)?</p>

8

<p>ummm, a bit of overload here. How can you take ap gov and ap hist at same time...why do your gc let you overload so much. But since ALLLLL of this is your choice, why make excuses...excuses are for when you have no choice, you choose to do this, so whatever happens is all your repsonsibility.</p>

9

<p>There is nothing to explain. You aren;t doing badly. And remember, you chose to take on this much, so you must step up and accept the consequences. And remember, you chose to skip certain classes. If you weren't ready, then that again, is your choice.</p>

<p>Your grades are fine, but beware of the downward trend.</p>

10

<p>yes, thats the right word. overload.</p>

<p>i made a mistake!! i took the HARdEST AP Classes this year
(instead of the easy STAT, Art history, Lit)</p>

<p>and got myself a bucket full of Bs.</p>

<p>I made a mistake, but it's too late to change it. I hope the colleges will realize this, that I CAN change.</p>

11

<p>Instead of saying the ECs made your grades low, explain why ECs are so important to you, why they come first, your experiences/goals/sacrifices/obstacles, etc. Yeah, adcoms don't like excuses, that's for sure, b/c there are kids out there with the ECs & the grades. but i totally know how you feel!</p>

12

<p>ps- are you planning on taking the AP exam in each class? Is it required? The reason I ask is that your post can be a lesson for others. Some colleges want the test if you took the class, some don't care, some will wonder why no test. At my D;s school, if you take the class you must take the test. Also, if you get a less than a 3 on the test, they will wonder about the grade in class....all this is why taking so many APs all at once is not always the best decision.</p>

13

<p>"here's my transcript
it's really bad. "</p>

<p>Oh please, I really want to tell you to shut up but that would be mean....:)</p>

<p>There are nothing wrong with Bs. Your current GPA places you 6th out of 350...That's top 2%. </p>

<p>You need to stop complaining.</p>

14

<p>Also, chanman, most schools say that they'd much rather see B's in tough classes than A's in slacker classes!</p>

15

<p>yes. bad decision, i knoww, this is horrible time management</p>

<p>i am taking all my AP Exams.</p>

<p>I intend on getting at least three 5s and a couple 4s by the end of my junior year. </p>

<p>I'm also independent studying Environmental science (for the AP exam)</p>

16

<p>yea i dont know what you're complaining about your transcript is totally fine</p>

<p>b's dont stand for bad</p>

<p>and plus, colleges will accept a person with A's and B's with good EC's over a person with straight A's and no EC's</p>

17

<p>There was a cartoon show today, and this girl was an overachiever and made straight As all her life. Her little sister was soo jealous..so when she came home to visit from college, she changed the A to a B+..and well, the overachiever completely shut down. She was crying day and night in her room, and no matter what her parents gave her to make her feel better (3rd row tickets, beautiful expensive dress, chocolates, anything she asked for), she consistently thought she was a loser. </p>

<p>Anyway, I'm doing bad too cuz I don't think I have time either...but you have ECs so ..I guess it's all good. One B drops you a couple of ranks around here though. So 6th and 7 Bs is pretty good.</p>

18

<p>^</p>

<p>grade deflation.
(i heard it was a bad thing, too)</p>

<p>anyways, i'm notreally complaining (sry if it sounded like it)</p>

<p>i just want to make sure the colleges know this point when we're doing interviews</p>

19

<p>"There was a cartoon show today, and this girl was an overachiever and made straight As all her life. Her little sister was soo jealous..so when she came home to visit from college, she changed the A to a B+..and well, the overachiever completely shut down. She was crying day and night in her room, and no matter what her parents gave her to make her feel better (3rd row tickets, beautiful expensive dress, chocolates, anything she asked for), she consistently thought she was a loser."</p>

<p>haha wasnt that cartoon "Hey Arnold" with Helga and Olga Pataki</p>

20

<p>Grade deflation is a bad thing because it means your grades are lower...thats the only reason</p>