Looking for some help here, hopefully from the horse’s mouth itself! I was admitted to W&M as an ED applicant and am so excited to attend in the fall! There is one potential problem- the dreaded AP Calculus class. I am working as hard as I can, and attending tutoring weekly, but I feel like there is a strong possibility I will end up with a “C” in the class at the end of the year. Math has always been a sticking point for me and I struggled but maintained a B last year in precalculus. I have three other AP classes that I will have “A’s” in, and will likely have a B in Honors Physics. I read through the past “Admit It!” blogs and know that 2 “C’s” will earn you an ominously thin letter. What about one C? Should I write a preemptive explanatory letter for one “C” in AP Calc?
You’ll be fine with only one C. Just don’t let it drop any lower than that and keep your other grades up. The whole reason the admissions office created the post “You can’t spell calculus without two C’s” is because they recognize that students are perhaps students are taking challenging schedules senior year and it can be difficult to balance everything second semester senior year. Still try your hardest, as understanding calculus could help you out in many ways when you get to college and ap credit could fulfill a math proficiency requirement. If it makes any difference to you, anecdotally I was accepted with one C on my transcript senior year and it turned out to be fine.
No worries, I was in the same boat last year and ended up with a C+ in calc. It was my only C ever and it seems like it would be the same for you. Don’t worry about it. “You can’t spell calculus without two C’s”
Thanks for the reassurance, guys! Anyone from W&M Admissions care to weigh in? 
HA HA no way, loosen up, you’re fine…