Everything was going quite well, second quarter grades saw an improvement, and then we had a surprise FRQ in my AP Microecon class. The way grades are split up (in my school at least, I’m assuming it’s different everywhere) is that AP classes have a summative category for big projects, tests and etc that make up 90% of a quarter grade and a formative category for quizzes and etc that makes up 10%. I was sitting at a stable 96 UW, when we had the surprise FRQ which was only worth 6 points. I didn’t do so hot, unfortunately. Well, that FRQ is the only thing sitting in my second quarter formative component of my grade and my second quarter grade is now a 91%. I had a 96 the first quarter, and 96 prior to the FRQ.
I’m so concerned about this. I know it’s inexcusable to some degree, but it was a 6 point thing that dropped my grade 5%. That’s huge! There’s no way I can explain that to Yale (I was deferred) or any other RD school and I don’t know what to do, or if there’s anything I CAN do.
@8bagels I’m not sure what you found so humorous in my original post, but in case there was some misunderstanding, let me assure you that I am being 100% sincere and legitimate. I would not post my question otherwise.
@aoYale2020 No but from my understanding mid year reports are especially important for deferred and RD round applicants. I don’t think it reflects well no matter how you look at it that my grade dropped 5% in one quarter.
I thought your post (“OMG, my mid term grade in one class dropped from a high A to a low A, am I now not going to get into Yale?!?”) was a satirical joke, meant to be something for the Urban Dictionary or The Onion.
I think going from a mid-high A to a lower A won’t matter much in their consideration. I mean this sincerely, worry about other things. Think to yourself deeply and you realize that it does not matter.
Don’t worry. To Yale, an A is an A. Does your school have semester grades? Usually, semester grades are the only grades reported on a mid year transcript, not quarter grades.
@8bagels I figured you assumed as much but nope, completely serious here. Let me just make it clear that I wouldn’t care so much about the fact it’s a low A if it weren’t for the significant drop in comparison to the previous quarter. Similarly, I would not care if it were the semester grade shown, but I’m not sure about my school’s policy.
At this point I know it seems like an insignificant detail, but who knows? I think we can all agree here that when acceptance rates are so low you want to present yourself in the best light possible, hence my frustration. Unfortunately for me, I’m no Intel winner or stellar applicant in Yale terms, so the mid year grades will be the last additional piece of info that could help me in the RD round.
Forgive me for sounding grade obsessed (I am not), but I think it’s also fair to say your sarcastic assumption and response were a little uncalled for.
@FinelyAgedPruno@aoYale2020 Thank you for the input. I worry about this because I have already worried and done what I can with all the subjective things. This sudden drop which is not reflective of my ability overall simply had me incredibly frustrated, for who know what goes on behind the closed doors of admissions? Nothing wrong with being extra cautious. Like I said, I’m a deferred applicant so there’s not much left I can do.
Understand that I’m not saying “oh god one A- I won’t get in!” I’m saying that it’s a culmination of little things, this included, that clearly marked my deferral and may in turn generate a rejection. We all know it is never one grade or one factor that generates a rejection unless it is blatant (unlike this situation), but all things will certainly have an effect in such a competitive applicant pool.
I think you’re way overthinking this. Your realize that they will soon have about 25,000 new applications to conside. They don’t have the time to scrutinize every little grade fluctuation on a transcript. Just make sure you do the best possible job on your other apps and hope for the best with Yale. That’s all you can do. Good luck!
You will be fine, rest assured. I understand how you need to think about each nook and cranny of your application, but your overall transcript is solid and will not devalue because of this.