I go to a super small (our largest graduating class has been 25 kids) competitive charter-public in Arizona and I’m really just looking for some perspective on just how this will hurt my shot at elite schools.
Freshmen Year
AP Microeconomics (5): A
AP Macroeconomics (5): A
AP U.S. Government (5): A
AP Chemistry (5): A
AP Calculus AB (5): A
Honors Literature: A
Honors Lang: A
Honors Biology: A-
Mandarin: C+ (AND HERE IS THE PROBLEM)
Sophomore Year
AP Biology (5): A
AP Computer Science (5): A
AP Lang (5): A
AP Physics 1 (4): A
AP European History (5): A
AP Calculus BC (5): A
Debate: A
Honors Mandarin: C+ (YEP AGAIN)
Essentially, I got two C+ in mandarin, and it killed my GPA. (~3.75) and I’m really wondering how much it hurts my application.
This year I’m taking 5 more APs (anticipating 5s on all) including 2 capstones (which are post AP classes, ex: linear algebra and biomechanics) so that puts by total to 17 (5 freshman year, 6 sophomore, 5 junior (because I exhausted all of them) and 1 more in eight grade). I took AP Mandarin this year as well, not taking the test (obviously.) and will likely end up with a B
My ECs are decent enough imo so are my test scores (99th percentile) but the point of this post is really to gauge just how much the C+ hurt my application when weighed against what I consider a very rigorous course list.
My weighted GPA is around a 4.60 if that means anything.
Looking at the class load, I assume that you attend Basis.
Class load looks rigorous but do you have any EC’s? Schools want a well rounded individual and may perceive you as someone who is interested in test taking only. You haven’t listed any activities outside of school so I don’t have an idea of the typo of person you are.
The C+ in Mandarin could be a concern if you are of Chinese ethnicity. If you are not, chalk it up to your wanting to challenge yourself in taking an unfamiliar language. If you are Chinese that would be a big red flag because a lot of Chinese kids will take the class for an easy A and in my son’s school it is considered a giant joke to take Mandarin, since most of the kids in the class are Chinese and already take weekend Chinese classes (no flames-I’m Chinese and my son decided to challenge himself by taking French). Unfortunately he quit once he reached French 4 Honors since his school devoted more resources towards Chinese and Spanish.
^ Exactly, if you’re not Chinese, then it will not hurt you. Also, a B in AP Mandarin shows improvement. It’s not a terrible GPA either…
I feel like there are some schools (even top ones) that will forgive your C just because it is in Mandarin.
^I honestly doubt any ‘elite’ school would ‘overlook’ a sinlge C, let alone two.
I contacted an adcom after I got admitted to my school to inquire about grades and they even brought up the C I got in high school, which probably means that these elite schools keep close tabs on your academic performance. A 3.75 is not bad. It’s not great but your GPA won’t kill your chances. The two Cs hurt a lot, but again, I don’t think you’re out of the running (I hope?). What’s your class rank?
Whoa Edit: Did you get a C both semesters, both years? Or just one C per year?
I do go to a basis and I’m not Chinese (whitest guy I know actually)
I have what I think are pretty decent and focused ECs
Debate team captain (nsda) (multiple awards) huge time investment def the one I’m most passionate about of these
Model UN captain + awards (won AZmun every year I’ve gone)
NHS and another service organization (easy 250+ hours of service)
National History Day
Acadeca
Chess team (we aren’t AIA until next year but its def a passion of mine)
Started my own business that makes enough to be relevant but more importantly there’s relevance to it in terms of my background and circumstance
I’ve interned for the dems and I’m booked for a legal internship this summer
Really want to found a chapter of the ydsa that’s gonna be my mission this summer
Couple other competitions and whatnot in the field of politics and international relations (I think that’s what my app hits hardest on)
I’m looking to do something much more on the side of Business, not really interested in the med path (which if you know anything about basis it’s that every other person is an aspiring med student), not ruling out all stem but its not my passion atm
basis is small doesn’t offer too too much ECs but I do everything I can (and sometimes what I can’t) but what i think might be my saving grace is that literally everyone with an app in my ballpark is going either on med or cs.
Your school is probably on the radar of adcoms so they will most likely look carefully at your app. You are not doomed because of a couple of C grades, despite what @beepybeetle says. Especially not with 11 APs and counting. Your course rigor will be assessed in the context of what others do in your school.
I don’t care for your user name. Being positive is going to help you. Stay focussed. Pursue what interests you. That’s how you can distinguish yourself from your classmates.
Btw, you can stop with the excessive APs. 11 is more than enough.
Yes, I am aware of that^. You said they would “hurt a lot” and they “will notice two Cs.” They will notice two Cs, but I am not sure, in this particular case, they will hurt a lot, because there are many other factors which might compensate. This student has some mitigating factors which, IMO, top colleges might not be too concerned about, notably his school,11 AP’s all with scores above three, and strong ECs. By no means am I saying he will definitely get into top schools. I am saying that hollistic admissions will likely work in his favor to not weigh the two C grades too heavily agsinst the strength of the rest of the app.