Open a new tab, make a new google account, and devote your time to becoming a YouTuber because now you have no other option.
(just kidding btw)
Don’t let something that has already happened stress you out for the rest of your high school years. Instead, plan accordingly, find out the best possible way to explain it, and considering this grade is an outlier compared to your other grades at the moment, maybe it isn’t at all bad.
I’m not some expert in the college admissions process myself, but luckily you have various sources of advice that you have already found, and I suggest making the most of it while you still can.
Every time one of my grades drop a letter or two, I don’t let it take control of my future, instead I push through it, and I think you should too.
“It’s not as simple as just letting the F sit there in your app, hoping the rest is so great. It’s time to take yourself out of dream mode and into some solid, savvy strategy.“
Exactly…and no one is suggesting that first sentence.
OP, how did you learn from this? How did this experience turn you into a stronger applicant? This is a difficult thing to spin, but there is a possibility it can be spun. Everyone above has some solid advice - good luck, OP.
Nor has OP shown he understands action is needed. He just wants to beat himself up. That’s not Ivy level thinking.
And, “Show, not just tell” means he can’t just claim he learned from this.
We can’t hold his hand. See if he comes back with ideas.
D failed a very easy online film class (dual enrollment) last semester. Different reason (had to miss final exam due to family emergency, professor doesn’t do make-up tests, but offered to “overlook” final paper to bring the grade down to an F to allow re-take), same result. Instead of re-taking the class with the same professor, D chose to take it with a different (reportedly, more difficult one) this semester. She’ll get exposed to new movies, new analysis, etc. The F will probably stay on her transcript and stick out as a sore thumb (the GPA is supposed to be corrected once the second class results in an A), but as someone here mentioned, it can be turned into an asset by pointing to student’s resilience and ability to make lemonade out of lemons.
While sociology is different than film, I recommend you re-take the same class with the different professor, chances are the class would still be taught differently and you could get new insights and different perspective even on the same material. Best of luck!
I’m still not understanding why you can’t retake the class, perhaps over the summer. You can explain, package, market, and spin it all you want - and cry in your milk - but nothing is going to come close to positive, actionable steps you take to remedy the situation.
I agree with the above. I’d contact both the administration of the online class and your guidance counselor. Your focus on Harvard is bizarre. There are hundreds of great schools out there. Stop rejecting 95% of the schools you could learn well at and stop obsessing about the one that rejects 95% of their applicants. There are twice as many valedictorians in the US than there are slots in the freshman class of the Ivy League school all combined. Are you the very best, most accomplished person compared to all the peers you have in your school? If not, move on. I would grieve the grade, however.
Stop beating yourself up. It’s not helpful. You are the same person you were before you screwed up. You will be admitted to a good college to pursue your future ambitions. The focus on ivy and Harvard is misplaced. A particular college is not the prize. You are the prize. The college that admits you, and a good one certainly will benefit from your presence. Be the person that you want to be.
Have some confidence in yourself, own the mistake, and be prepared to explain it.
It is what it is. It will not be your last mistake. We all make mistakes throughout our life. It’s the curse of being human. Embrace it with humility.
There are some terrific suggestions on this thread on the logistics of what you must do to deal with this, but torturing yourself and having any concern about any particular school like Harvard is definitely becoming of you.
Pick up the pieces and move on in a positive way.