<p>Hello. I have a bit of dilemma. I am currently enrolled in Pre-Calc H (a group 5-the highest my school offers) but I have a D+ in it. My teacher is the worst I've ever had and almost everyone in the class is below a B or C (except for a few). </p>
<p>I would like to move down to regular Pre-Calc where they move slower and the teachers are better (It's a group 4, the second hardest my school offers). I think I would learn more and have a better grade... </p>
<p>Since I am a humanities kind of gal, I was hoping that his drop wouldn't hurt my chance of admission at top tier schools like Yale for instance. I'm just not good at math, but every other class that I'm taking is honors or AP.</p>
<p>Please let me know what you think. Should I take a C (or even worse-a D...yikes!) in and honors class or drop down, even though it's not the most "rigorous course load" available?</p>
<p>The first thing I would do is see if it was possible to switch into a different honors class (if available). The teacher does not seem to be doing his/her job adequately, and students should not be punished. I would try to sort this issue out before dropping. If it isn't resolved, I would personally drop, but it probably would hurt your chances at an "elitist" school like Yale.</p>
<p>Thats how most honors teachers are at public schools, you have to do most of the learning yourself. Those who take the initiative are the ones who succeed (i wasn't really one of them, i got a B)</p>
<p>If you're not one of those people who can "grab yourself by the bootstraps" (I can't), drop down. It'll hurt your chances at some higher level schools, but not as much as getting a C or D in that course.</p>
<p>If your teacher is a nightmare, you aren't learning, and you are getting a D, drop down (if there are no other H's available).</p>
<p>Another option would be to stay put and hire a tutor, but that would be very expensive.</p>
<p>I assume that you are a junior. Do extra work, if you can, to get back on the H track for next year. That would mean a great deal of keeping up. </p>
<p>The alternative is to just let it go. If you find that you are not a math person, you can still get into a top school if the rest of your file is impressive. It will be harder, but it can happen. Many students with perfect grades in the highest math classes are rejected from these schools each year. It is very possible that even if you stayed in pre-calc H, and got an A, you'd still be rejected from Yale. My bet is that in your case what would get you in, if you did get in, would have to do with something other than math anyway.</p>
<p>A Yale admission is no slam dunk with a good grade in that class, so step down and lean something as opposed to nothing and let your Yale application chips fall where they may.</p>
<p>you can take all AP in everything, get A in everything, and get rejected</p>
<p>you can get some Bs, have some non honors classes and get in</p>
<p>think about it this way: if you are totally stressed, have knots in your stomach when you thnk about that class, the rest of your life will suffer- your grades, your ECs, etc</p>
<p>if you can, take the regualr Calc class, its still math</p>