<p>Okay so I'm new on this forum but have been lurking around for quite some time. </p>
<p>Recently, I've been having a bit of trouble in AP calc AB. Last couple tests didn't go over too well, and I'm bordering on a C- (72.3% as of now). The semester ends around the 20th of this month. The teacher said the final generally raises your grade, and but there's still another 100 pt test before that. I know the general process if I were to get a D (call into admissions offices and explain to them what went wrong etc etc.) but would like to avoid that as much as possible as it most likely means rescind.</p>
<p>I'm a senior in high school, work a retail job in the mall since summer and still am. My past few years of high school have been average rigorous, 1 AP soph year, 3 APs junior, and 3 this year. Did track for two years until a knee injury. 3.5GPA weighted, 1750 on SAT, 650 on both Bio E and Math2, 26 ACT, applied for a finance major at UCB, UCSC, UCI, UCR, UCD, UCSB. </p>
<p>Should I drop the class next semester fearing it might happen again? Or continue so there's still a continuity? Would colleges frown upon "downgrading" to a regular calc class for the sake of not failing?</p>
<p>ask the college guidance at your school. some schools don’t allow a drop of AP for 2nd semester since they don’t want kids signing up to beef up rigor for apps and then dropping. hate to say but get a tutor!</p>
<p>Thanks lioness4 I was thinking about getting a tutor, or maybe even forming study groups. I know a couple friends that do well in class, and hoping to collaborate with them. </p>
<p>@OhioMom3000, I might be able to but due to the fact that I have to earn back all the money I spent on apps I don’t think I can. Plus, management at where I work is a real PITA to get time off as i hear from my coworkers who are mostly college students. </p>
<p>OT: is it beneficial to visit colleges, as I heard from a coworker that it shows the colleges you’re interested in their campus, to get to know the admissions officers and etc, would this increase my chances any?</p>
<p>@boysx3 Yeah I have. It’s pretty nice. clears up things I didn’t understand when in class. I was only occassionally using it, but I think I might just watch the lesson online right after school to get a refersher.</p>
<p>Did you consider getting an appln waiver at the time of admission. If you need to work so you can pay your app fees, I am assuming your financial means are limited. I really would look into cutting back your work hours if you possibly can. Senior courses such as Calc BC is rigorous and business schools like to see calculus. So obviously your grades will matter. Whether you get tutoring or not, if you are working lots of hours outside of school, it will affect your grades. Perhaps you can work during weekends for 5-10 hr/week. And drop any EC stuff. Honestly maintaining a gpa is far more important at this point. So get a tutor, do online studying - whatever it takes.</p>
<p>Visiting colleges is not needed…you are done with your apps I presume. you can always visit once you are accepted. I’d save the time and money involved in that.</p>
<p>I agree on holding back on visiting. You can do that in Spring if you want. Now it’s important to focus on grades and getting apps in.</p>
<p>Also, communicate with your teacher and let him/her know you are having difficulty lately as well as your job situation. He/she may have some suggestions and be of some assistance. Are you able to go to office hours? If so go for some one-on-one help. If not, still explain situation to teacher.</p>
<p>“Would colleges frown upon “downgrading” to a regular calc class for the sake of not failing?”</p>
<p>College frown on kids gaming the system by signing up for APs and then dropping to regular classes so they can cruise through the last semester of their senior year. They do not frown on someone who is doing poorly in a single AP class dropping to a lower level of the same subject. If you have any concerns about this, contact the admissions officer and ask, but it’s clearly foolish to continue in a subject area at the same level of intensity if you are already doing poorly and haven’t got the foundation to continue as the material gets more complex.</p>
<p>As mentioned, the Khan videos are great. Also, for math in particular, try PatrickJMT (find him under that name on youtube). I know this may sound blasphemous, but I actually prefer him to the Khan videos (gasp!). He is AWESOME at explaining math in reasonable terms.</p>
<p>I might call into the admissions to ask about it, seeing what they’ll say (about dropping to regular calc). From there I’ll decide if I want/can drop AP Calc. Regular calc at my school I fear might go at too slow of a pace. I skipped a level in math since middle school and I was always used to the faster pace. Then again, I’m nothing compared to the freshman who took Calc BC last year and got the best grade in the class. And if it keeps me from getting a bad grade, I might as well.</p>
<p>It was the weeks leading up to and following the holiday season where what hit me the hardest, as at my work, they didn’t allow for time off requests from late Nov. I’m not sure when it’ll end, but I assume business is slowing down as I haven’t got as much hours recently. I may still ask for time off, but it’s dicey. </p>
<p>I didn’t plan on visiting colleges until spring break anyways, so I’ll hold off on the trip down to LA for then. </p>
<p>@born2dance94 Thanks! I might check out his videos. I’m going to need as much help as possible. Lol.</p>
<p>Thanks guys, you’ve all been a big help. The big final is coming up soon. I’m at the very cusp of a C-, so here’s to hoping it stays that way or hopefully improves.</p>
<p>You are right about your retail job. January will slow down and February even more so, so you will probably continue to see reduced hours and that should help.</p>