<p>This trimester, I'm actually going to get a D in a class for the first time. During my freshman and sophomore years, I took a lot of honors classes, but I didn't really apply myself, so I didn't get the grades I wanted. This year, I really worked hard and got a 4.1 in the first two trimesters (straight As with the exception of one B in Honors Precalc). My cumulative GPA is a 3.75 and has only risen since second trimester of freshman year.</p>
<p>This trimester has been awful, however. I've been swamped with Honors Government, Honors Trig, CP English, CP Comparative Religions, and CP Contemporary Literature. It is by far the hardest trimester I've ever taken, even though it's only two honors classes. I have a chance of getting As in Religions, Government, and possibly English. I'm definitely getting a C in Trig due to my disdain for math and a terrible teacher that doesn't explain anything (I used iTunes U to teach myself).</p>
<p>Though I'm going to get my first D in an elective: Contemporary Literature. The class is actually pretty easy in itself. It's just reading 30 pages each night on a book that was published in the last ten years and taking a quiz the next day that you'll either get a 100 on if you read the night before or fail if you didn't. I just found it hard to read 30 pages every night in addition to the 20 pages I was reading every night for English, the time-consuming projects I did for Government, the Trig homework I never understood, and Religions, which wasn't a walk in the park either.</p>
<p>At best, I'll get a 3.33 this trimester, lowering my cumulative GPA down to a 3.70 at the highest. My question is: will this be a big negative to some colleges? Will they just look at my cumulative GPA, or will they take a second look at my D in Contemporary Literature? It's not a core class; just an elective.</p>
<p>Though I'm more concerned about how my parents will react....</p>
<p>That D will screw you big time. Assuming you’re aiming for top 25 Unis/top 10 LAC’s, that’s probably going to be a dealbreaker.</p>
<p>^ Not really</p>
<p>I had 3 D’s in junior year and I still got into USC and GTech, both top 25. And my overall GPA was a lower than the OP’s.</p>
<p>Depends on where you want to go to college. I had 1 D on my transcript as well and I turned out ok. Lots of people did. If you want to go to an Ivy, k maybe you’re going to have to seek more realistic schools. But either way a 3.7 is still a respectable GPA that should enable you to get into a good gamut of colleges. </p>
<p>Plus it’s only an elective so that D should not hurt you as much as it would in a core class.</p>
<p>Transcript is more important than GPA, so yes, these grades will be noticed, and will matter, and will be a big negative to some colleges. Of course, you’re still a very marketable student and will probably be fine, but do look into where you fit the student profile. Talk to your GC.</p>
<p>You’ll get into a top 25. Don’t worry so much.</p>
<p>Thank you, everyone, for the replies. My two reach schools are Northwestern and NYU. They were longshots even before this trimester, but I’m hoping that my resum</p>
<p>
this is whole-heartedly reassuring. I now feel amazing. :]</p>
<p>I read the thread title as “My First Daughter…”</p>
<p>A lot of your classes are CP or college prep, which are basic courses?</p>
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<p>That is the basic course level at my school. Contemporary Literature (the class I’m getting a D in) is considered a CP course. Then there’s Honors and AP, both of which you must take a test or qualify through other means just to take those courses.</p>
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<p>hahahhaha…that’s how I read it too.</p>
<p>So original Q: there are many people who are successful despite not very well previous situations (so awkwardly worded)…Hope and dilligence is key :)</p>
<p>Charles,</p>
<p>It shouldn’t be too big of a problem, especially if you bounce back with nearly all As next year. If you are concerned about how your parents will react, have a mature conversation with them. They’ll love you no matter what grades you earn. How about meeting with your guidance counselor and ask him/her to reassure your parents that one D isn’t such a big deal.</p>
<p>My D, who is on CC is going to go to a CC if she gets a D.</p>
<p>Cody: GTech and USC are not top 25 schools. USC is #26, GaTech is #35.</p>
<p>You should have done the reading…</p>