<p>I applied early decision to VA Tech and got in, now i have just recieved a letter reminding me that my admission was conditional upon continued academic success. Substantial improvement is needed, if my grades don't improve my offer will be reconsidered. I don't understand since i only dropped one class grade from a B to a C. I don't see too much in the way of improving my grade either, it's calc BC. Help? Advice? Please and thank you.</p>
<p>This would be better directed to the college’s admission itself.
But typically this type of letters mean: don’t get a C or a D. So you need to bring that Calc BC grade to a C+ or B- by the end of the year or you may be rescinded (that means you “lose” your admission).</p>
<p>Looks like you applied ED to VT and they used grades 9-11 for admission. THEN you must have sent your mid-year grades and it showed a C in AP Calc. Sounds like VT doesn’t like that C and wants you to bring it up to a B. But, call them to be sure.</p>
<p>Are there other classes that you have a B in that you can bring up to an A to “make up” for the AP Calc grade?</p>
<p>From MANY of the 21 colleges (all private) that we visited we heard DO NOT take AP classes in any topic you cannot maintain a B in–don’t take them just to take them or put them on your resume/application if you are going to risk a C. It sounds like that is what is going on here…</p>
<p>^lynjobes: exactly. That’s why, before enrolling in an Ap class, a student should ask his/her current teacher if they have a sufficient background to get a B or more.
This is especially true for math, since some students believe they MUST take Calculus and some even think Calc BC is “better” than AB, regardless of preparation or academic goals - if you can get an A in Calc BC, go ahead, but if you’re pulling an 85 in precalc with tremendous efforts, don’t. Calc AB is just as good, or if you don’t need calculus (ie you intend to major in a non stem subject or would benefit from one more year of high school math before you tackle calculus) take AP stats or another type of math. Only two colleges require calculus for admission (HarveyMudd and CalTech) while at elite schools like MIT, either you have BC with an A, or you’re better off with another form of math with an A.</p>
<p>Well i didn’t have any option on taking the AP calc because i took it through the governor school program and was thus required to take it. Believe me i wouldn’t have. </p>
<p>Also it was solely a first semester class so there is no way that i can get that C up any higher. Stats starts this semester and so far it looks like i could pull an A or at least a B</p>
<p>HOpefully your counselor can explain this and explain the Governor School requirement. Go see him/her and ask s/he send this explanation, if s/he hasn’t done it.</p>