Recovering from 2 bad sophomore grades?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Hello! I’m a sophomore in high school, and this past semester has been kind of up and down academically. I’ve always been a good student and avid learner with straight A’s in all-honors courses. I’m weaker in math, but science is usually not a problem because the material interests me. The worst grades I’ve gotten are A-'s in math and science courses.

Okay, so this semester, I started doing rather poorly in my algebra II/Trig honors class. I ended the third quarter with a 73, and I began to associate a lot of shame, guilt and anxiety with math – so much that I had panic attacks on test days and cried and panicked whenever I tried to study. It was lovely!! I have a 79 in the fourth quarter and have yet to take my final, but I calculated that I would need a 96 to get an 80 in the class. I was studying math yesterday and I need to face the probability that that’s not going to happen, and I’ll probably get a C in the semester. So there’s that.

Moreover, my shaky B+ in chemistry has recently fallen to a B (thanks stoichiometry!!) so all in all I’m looking at ending the semester with one B and one C. However, all my other classes are mostly 96 or above, including over 100 in AP Euro thanks to an extra credit project. There’s the situation, sorry I rambled a bit!!

Basically what I’m asking is – if I get straight A’s for the rest of high school (I’m taking 2 AP’s next year but honors bio & college prep math) do I still have a shot at the UC’s or some LACs? This doesn’t include essays (I’m a good writer – though my rambling in this post probably doesn’t show that too well!), tests (haven’t taken standardized tests yet except the PSAT. 680 in reading & writing but 560 in math. Yikes!! I’m planning on test prep for sat math) and EC’s. My EC’s are pretty good but this is not a chance me so I don’t think they’re quite relevant to my academic inquiry.

I’m basically looking for advice on what a girl who really loves languages, history, and literature can do to counteract two bad grades in fields she’d never major in, ever. Thanks so much for reading to the end!! Any help is appreciated greatly.

2

Depends on your overall GPA, but 2 C’s won’t kill your chances for UC or LAC schools in general if your other grades are good. College admissions are usually holistic, so if you have good standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, essays, and recs, you should get into a decent school.

Your overall GPA may not be competitive enough with 2 C’s for top UC’s or LAC’s, but you never know. UCB, UCLA, and UCSD might end up being reaches, but UCSB, UC Davis, and UCI are still good UC schools you can go for.

You should talk to your school guidance counselor and check the admitted students profile from individual schools and naviance to get a better idea.

3

Calculate your UC GPA at the end of Junior year and see where you stand.

https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/

2 C’s will not take you out of the running as long as the rest of your grades are mainly A’s.

As stated above, essays, test scores, EC’s will all contribute to your chances. Do your best and re- evaluate your college list after Junior year. Intended major can play a huge factor in your admission chances.

Best of luck.

4

Thank you both!!

5

Do what you gotta do to score your very best on the ACT and/or SAT. That can make up for a couple less than perfect grades. And, ya know, once you’re at the school you ultimately choose, you’ll be happy and get educated. Don’t set yourself up to believe that only one school, or group of schools will be good enough. That stuff is just not true.