I have a 3.6 gpa right now. I have never gotten lower than a B but with everything going on right now, I may get a C in AP Computer Science. I will be getting an A in every class but that one. How will it affect my college admissions? Do I have to enter first-semester senior year grades when applying RD for colleges?
I believe one C in an AP course, during COVID/remote learning won’t hurt your application. You have opportunities on Common App to explain special circumstances. So if you choose to explain the C there’s space for that. Best to be upfront and honest about your struggle in that particular class. Could be seen as an interesting insight into who you are.
Every piece of data goes into a college admittance decision. An C is worse than an A or B. It’s also only one of about 50 semester grade on a transcripts, that is only one part of an overall application (though an important one). All As and one C should actually improve an existing 3.6 GPA, no?
Do not try to “explain” a C unless there true are extraordinary circumstances. “Everything going on right now” is not a unique problem. It would not come across well.
Some schools require first semester grades, some don’t. My experience was that most do, but it’s been posted here that California schools don’t. Each school’s admissions web site may spell it out.