I got a D... What are my chances?

I’m currently a high school senior with a GPA of 3.67/4.33. I’ve taken 15 AP exams and have passed all of them with mainly 3s and 4s (one 5 in AP Calculus AB). I’m an AP Scholar with Honors. I’ve gotten As and Bs. I’ve taken 5 DE classes (all As), currently taking 2, taking 2 next semester. I’m part of many clubs, including 3 honor societies where I’m an officer with 2 of them (NHS and MAO). I’ve done club soccer and club volleyball. I got a 32 on my ACT and a 1410 on my SAT (planning on just using the ACT score).

However, junior year 2nd semester, I got a D for AP Physics C. However, I passed EM and Mechanics with a 4.

Should I just not bother applying to any Ivy Leagues because of the D?

Thank you if you respond :slight_smile: I’ll answer any other questions.

You have very little chance at any of the Ivies. The D certainly didn’t help. You might want to apply to schools that you have a better chance.

What kind of schools would that be? As in terms of acceptance rates? I’m not sure what to look for because of the D :confused:

3.67gpa and 32ACT/1410SAT put you in the range for what I would recommend target schools like Northeastern, SCU, U of Rochester, LeHigh, Macalester, Tulane, schools like that. Even a few of those may be reaches.

In terms of acceptance rates, perhaps shoot for ~30% as your targets.

Make sure you have several safeties on your list.

Unfortunately, junior and senior year grades are the most important grades to colleges, and therefore your D makes most colleges frown. I would definitely recommend making sure your senior year grades do not slip, to show an upward trajectory for grades, and also to perhaps address the D in a supplement or writing piece.

You should check out UMiami and Northeastern.

15 APs is a lot. They might overlook a single D if they understood that your load was so high.

However your standardized scores might be a bigger barrier. Again these can be overlooked if you have a hook: URM, athlete, development case. Do any of these apply to you?

… there is nothing wrong with your test scores. I mean, seriously. They are above average. Not a barrier at all for the schools you will need to target given your GPA.

That D is definitely an issue but not an insurmountable one. It does mean you will have to aim for different schools than if you didn’t have the D. I disagree with the other poster–30% chance of admission will likely be your REACH schools with a D (possibly high match depending on school). For safeties you need to look at schools that have acceptance rates of 60% of above.

That said: what state are you in? On the off-chance you’re in Cali, that D is an issue: you can’t attend a UC or CSU with a D in an A-G required course (which I believe Physics is). But you may be fine in any other state.

you have great scores and i think the 4 on the exam helps. nothing wrong with including a reach but make sure you create a balanced list with matches and safeties! what state are you in?

I really appreciate all the feedback :slight_smile:
I’m asian-American, both my parents are immigrants. My father went to university but my mother didn’t. I live in Florida.
During my sophomore and junior year I had to see a social worker about certain problems so my guidance counselor wants to explain that. I know getting a D is truly unacceptable, no matter the circumstance so I’ve accepted it and seeing what I can get.

Even without a D, you would have little chance to get in an Ivy, without stellar stats or extraordinary extracurriculars. I’m sorry for my cruel honesty but you sound like a smart kid so you should be able to make reality work in your favor instead of going for dream schools. You can get into some good schools. If you have your heart set on an Ivy education and if money isn’t an issue( or huge enough issue to get you full financial aid )then you can apply ED and explain your D in your essay and you may have a minute chance.

I’d rather have cruel honesty than false hope! Going to an Ivy isn’t the biggest thing in the world for me so I don’t think I will apply to any. I just want to make sure I go to the best school I can get into with my stats

Find the best school for you and don’t focus on ranking. That’s the wrong way to select a college.

Had it been a C or even a d if it had been earlier (Freshman year) then you could still be competitive