Low Physics Grades

Colleges and Universities A-Z California Institute of Technology
1

<p>I took intro physics junior year (AP wasn't offered, unfortunately) and performed well, had a solid A through the semester, etc. For the semester exam, the teacher gave us a timed group lab. I randomly ended up with two people who, to be objective, were only in the class to fulfill their physics graduation requirement and were completely lost in the subject. Long story short, I got a B on the exam, which pulled my semester grade down to an A-. Later that year, I got an 800 on the physics SAT II and independently prepared for the AP Physics B exam, on which I got a 5.</p>

<p>This year (senior) I'm doing an college level physics course (a slight step up from AP Physics C, material-wise), in which I'm looking at an A- because my high school schedule conflicts with the college schedule such that I've had to miss a few labs, which I can't make up.</p>

<p>I gather the adcom looks at physics grades to predict performance in the Caltech core, so I expect these grades could really detract from my application, even though I find the subject pretty easy.
How should I go about explaining why I have A-'s in what should be easy A classes, without making it sound like I'm giving excuses?</p>

2

<p>The adcom will look at your physics grades to try to evaluate performance, but you have more than enough to show that you are competent at physics. They understand that everyone has extenuating factors and off days and will almost certainly forgive an old A-, especially because it’s very easy to bob above and below that line.</p>

<p>You should think about studying Phys C on your own too. I wish I had seen calculus based physics before coming to Caltech.</p>

3

<p>That’s encouraging - thanks!
I should have mentioned, I will be doing the AP Physics C exam at the end of the year, since the college course I’m in pretty much covers that curriculum plus a little (and I’ll cover some on my own, of course).</p>