How bad does it look if I retake courses? I got a C in Algebra I so I’m retaking it online in my junior year for an A. In AP World History, I have a D so I’m retaking it with World History Honors (just can’t do AP history courses) for an A. By the way, I couldn’t take the AP National Exam because of that D (my school pays for the exam and won’t order for a student with a grade below a C in the course). The old grades will still show on the transcript. All the schools I’m planning to apply to are either target or safety schools (Spelman College, Scripps College, Bryn Mawr College, Northeastern University, Rollins College, University of Miami, Richmond, The American International University, American University). The only reach schools that I would be applying to McGill University (plus I’m already Canadian) and George Washington University. I’ll have a 3.5 UW/3.9W cumulative freshman/sophomore/junior GPA after retaking these courses. I also know I’ll do well on the SATs (550M, 770CR, 740W estimate). I also have strong extracurriculars. So will this whole coure retake hurt me?
<p>Take the exam at another school, or see if you can pay for it yourself.</p>
<p>Too late.. the exam is on Tuesday at noon.</p>
<p>Bring Up This Thread!</p>
<p>Most of the forums on College Confidential discuss people trying to get into Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford and MIT. For someone applying to those schools who has excellent stats, it becomes a lottery. For everyone accepted, there are four or five almost identical people who are denied. A 'C' in freshman year is probably a deal breaker. This is of course insane. How in the world can a person getting a 'C' in freshman year be that important.</p>
<p>You are mentioning less selective schools, and so the 'C' in algebra isn't going to be that bad. It is particularly good that you had the initative to makeup the course. The 'D' in AP History looks worse. If there were any extenuating circumstances, you should let the schools know. You would include it in your essay (don't avoid responsiblity or whine), or you could include a supplemental note. The best way is to have your guidance counselor write about it.</p>
<p>There are high schools in the country that are nationally known such as Harvard-Westlake, Montgomery Blair Magnet School, Thomas Jefferson School of Science and Technology, and St. Albans. These schools have 25 people apply to each of the top five schools, and probably 8-10 applicants are accepted to each. Such high schools do not give 'C's to students lightly because they understand the game being played. Other high schools don't. The admission committees at the schools you mentioned will look at the total application, and take into account the type of high school that you attended.</p>
<p>You mentioned that you were looking at Spelman and Bryn Mawr. I assume from this that you are an African-American woman. Underrepresent Minorities (URM's) are treated more favorably. This is entirely fair, a student at a top high school with a lot of support, top AP courses, and SAT tutors shouldn't be held to the same standard as someone who doesn't. This applies to URM's as well as anyone attending a regular high school in New Mexico or Kansas that doesn't offer AP classes. </p>
<p>You should devote yourself to the application essay and try to differentiate yourself from the pack there. If your SAT's are in the 50% SAT range for the school that you are applying to, you shouldn't worry. Depending on your final SAT scores, they may be dying to get you.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the advice. I go to a public high school ranked in the forties out of 600-something in Florida. And yeah, I'm Afro-Caribbean.</p>
<p>Really, it was on my own part that I received a D. The average grade in that class is a low B/C average. So I'm not necesassarily that far of the line. But still...</p>
<p>I apologize for bringing ethnicity into it, but it is part of the equation. As an individual, you have to pick your reaches, matches and safeties. That part of the equation affects what you do. With your gpa, SAT, class rank, and extracurriculars; you are doing very well. I don't think anyone will hold one bad grade against you.</p>