So I just figured out that I’m going to be ending the year in AP Calc AB with a C. I tried very hard this year but it just didn’t work out. Is that gonna look super bad on my college application? For some background, I am a high school junior who has had honor roll every year of high school (all A’s and B’s) my current weighted GPA is a 4.43 and unweighted is a 3.85 without this semester’s grades. I am very involved in my school and have multiple leadership positions. I have a 32 ACT score and I’m aiming to get a 34. I also am very involved in my extracurriculars. If I’m looking into going to a state school like UF, will the C make a big dent in my application? Also I will add that I’ve passed all three AP exams I’ve taken so far.
It seems to matter at FSU and probably at UF too. A C in calculus is less important if you want to major in something other than STEM.
FSU says 64% Earned all A and B grades in high school. However, 50% took calculus or above and you’re in that group, plus your ACT is at the 75th percentile of their admitted students last year. See where your “academic core” GPA is for UF/FSU and that will give you a better idea.
Are you taking the AP exam for Calc AB? If yes, is there any way that you can get intensive, effective tutoring for it for the next couple of weeks, before the exam? If you can get a high score on the AP exam, that would show that you actually were able to master the material, and should soften the C in the class.
we took a mock exam in class last week and i scored a 73% on it, which is equivalent to a 3 on the actual exam. do you think that’s good enough or should i be getting a 4 or even a 5?
In my opinion, no. I would say that a 3 on the AP exam would confirm that C. I think that at this late moment, the only thing that you could do is get many hours of tutoring, with a great teacher. Is there anyone in the class with you who is really good at it, who might be willing to just sit with you for hours and hours over the next two weeks, re-teaching you everything you’re shaky on? Is there a senior math whiz in school who could help you? Does your school have a student volunteer tutoring service?
I mean my teacher doesn’t offer actual tutoring but she is really helpful. I often go into her room to do problems and ask her for help. Are there any youtube channels or something I could use? I could ask seniors but I’m more of someone who needs to do stuff on my own to understand it so if I get tutored by kids my own age I tend to not learn as well because they just explain it.
I would take all the tests from this year, plus that practice test you just took, and go sit in her classroom if she’s available - your study hall, your lunch, after school - and just work through all the problems and ask her to explain to you everywhere you went wrong. Khan academy online can be helpful, too, if you can identify the sections that you need re-taught to you.
use 3b1b! lifesaver for calculus. and yes, get some practice problems and maybe a couple of prep books. go through all the concepts you’re shaky on (make sure you know the fundamental theorem of calculus, for example) and just do a TON of practice
Do what you can to bring up the C. However, I will tell you that my daughter earned a second semester C in AP Calc (during remote learning), and she was still accepted to Amherst with otherwise stellar grades and unique ECs - so all is not lost!
Like others have said, work to bring up the C while also getting in good exam prep in this final stretch. It won’t be the end of the world, this is only a chunk of your overall college admissions profile. Good luck!