<p>I received a D in my English III (AP) class. Last semester, I had a B. This D was earned quite unfairly and was out of my control.</p>
<p>Besides this grade, I have all A's and B's on my transcript (mostly A's) and 2 C's and over a 3.5 UW GPA. I have taken all gifted, honors, and AP classes throughout high school. </p>
<p>If selected as a National Achievement Semifinalist, will this D affect my chances of becoming a National Achievement Finalist if my grades and SAT score are high?</p>
<p>My school reports grades by the semester. The first semester is your grades earned in December and your second semester grades are those earned in May. </p>
<p>In December, my semester grade was a B and in May, my semester grade was a D. :(</p>
<p>Yes it is,
this is for African American students who score around 190ish on the PSAT. I think that to become a National Achieveement finalist you need to have a 3.5 UW GPA and high SAT scores. I have well over the GPA and the SAT scores. I am just wondering if this D will affect my chances.</p>
<p>I knew someone in a nearly identical predicament a few years ago - got a D semester grade in Calculus BC but pulled it up to a B the following semester. Otherwise, had very high grades in a very tough curriculum. And yeah, that D grade was the thing that kept him from being named a finalist even though his overall GPA and SAT were higher than some others that were chosen, and even though his curriculum was more rigorous. </p>
<p>That was one instance where it would have been better to take an easier course and get the better grade since the reviewers gave more weight to grades than rigor of the coursework. Of course, as they say, it’s best to get the highest grades in the toughest courses. But given a choice, at least as it pertains to Nat’l Achievement, they put a little more weight on the grades. </p>
<p>I do hope you have a better outcome than the student I knew in your circumstance. That was a few years ago so things may be different now.</p>
<p>Are you sure that is the reason that he didn’t get it.
When you are notified about not becoming a finalist, do they give you a reason as to why you havent received the finalist standing or did you all just assume this was why he wasn’t selected as a finalist?</p>
<p>No, they don’t give you a reason, but like you, he was really upset about the grade – felt it was undeserved. So he sent in a supplemental statement in hopes of bettering his chances. Didn’t work. So after he didn’t make it he actually called them and discussed it with them. </p>
<p>As I recall, he said they understood and empathized, but since the award is based on scholarship they just couldn’t see their way to putting someone through with a D on their transcript. He said they told him he needed to realize that the competition is considerable and there were lots of other students with perfect or near perfect grades with no blemishes. They appreciated his qualifications, accomplishments, etc., but there were lots of others similarly qualified with high grades in all classes. That’s when he pointed out all the advanced coursework he had done - he had tons of AP and Honor level classes, had taken a couple of courses at a local college and so forth. According to him, that’s when they told him they do consider that and complimented him on being so ambitious, but that was not enough to overcome the fact he’d gotten a D. He was very despondent over it and I spent a fair amount of time talking to him and his parents about it, which is why I remember it so well. </p>
<p>If it helps, he went on to receive 2 or 3 full ride offers from good schools and was admitted to just about everywhere he applied. He just recently completed his first year at a top 14 law school. So the NAS situation was a disappointment but ultimately didn’t even amount to a bump in the road. </p>
<p>I know that’s an easier perspective to hold looking back with hindsight after time has passed, but I just wanted to share that with you so you don’t worry about it so much. Whatever happens, you have a great future ahead. Plus, as I said, that was a few years ago and there are other factors involved with such decisions. I have no idea how they may read your particular situation today. I am just telling you how it worked out for someone else. Please don’t let what I said get you down.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about it. I didn’t take it that way. Your question was a logical one that i would have asked as well. I’ve been through all of this and I understand how you feel. That’s why I didn’t want to give you false encouragement, but at the same time, I also don’t want to see you stress too much over this. Trust me - however it works out regarding NAS, things will work out for you if you pursue the process strategically with a diligent effort. </p>
<p>Feel free to PM me if you feel like you need some help.</p>
<p>So, do you think that if there are more people with grades less than 3.5 GPA in this year’s selection that there will be a better chance of me receiving finalist standing?</p>
<p>Well yes, theoretically speaking. The better your qualifications are against the rest of the field the better your chances. I wouldn’t count on that being the case though. I mean, I wouldn’t count on the notion that NAS is less competitive today than in the past.</p>
<p>FLVADAD,
thank you so much for helping me and giving me a realistic perspective on this situation. I really hope things work out for me. Although I am looking to receive a scholarship from my PSAT scores, I am only looking to go to an in-state public college. I just wanted the merit, $2500 scholarship, and recognition because I have really worked hard throughout high school. But again, thank you and I will definitely PM you because I have alot of question as far as the scholarship and college process goes because I don’t feel that my guidance counselors are good advisors.</p>