Midyear reports and midterm exams

Parents Forum
1

<p>I just finished taking my midterms for school and got my grades for the semester. Our semester contains two marking periods and a midterm that counts as 1/2 a marking period. </p>

<p>My grades for my marking periods are all As in all 7 classes (French AP, Spanish AP, English AP, Calc C AP, Physics C AP, Independent Research GT, Intern/Mentorship GT), so I'm happy about that.</p>

<p>However on my midterm exams, I have all As except for two Cs...one in calc and the other in Physics. </p>

<p>I applied to schools as a foreign language/international relations major.</p>

<p>I'm kind of frustrated because my physics teacher moved me into this class in late october (the year starts at the end of august) and I never took the preliminary physics course that is a prerequisite to the class (i did not ask to move up;he felt I did not belong in my previous class). I have had a huge disadvantage but I have done well in the subjects we covered this marking period, since I got an A. Unfortunately the midterm was cumulative (an AP exam) and the first two months kicked my butt. </p>

<p>But anyways, what I really want to know is how much this is going to hurt my chances. If they put it in my rank, it still averages out to a 4.0 so that wont hurt...its just the presence of those Cs...</p>

2

<p>I think that you know that it could hurt, depending on the school. Colleges that have to cull the students need some reason to differentiate and the Mid Year grades are one culling factor. Having said that, I have heard and read copy from adcoms saying that a "C" in BC calc is not an issue, as that is so common, and to be taking that kind of load senior year hold well. The Physics, well, I don't know, never heard anything about that. The fact that math/physics is not your area of studied does mitagate it. But if you are applying to Princeton and you know that there are more kids than spots, of course, the grades can hurt you as the candidate can be so similar. But that you are taking such challeging courses will put you ahead of kids in your field that are taking very light loads senior year. But it all comes down to the numbers--number of kids with similar apps who do better than that with heavy loads will be ahead of you, all things equal.</p>

3

<p>good news-my bc calc midterm is a B . so just physics...</p>