<p>I currently am getting an 88 in a very rigorous course and I think it may drop to an 85 by the end of the year (which is in a few weeks). This will bring my average down by over a percent on a 100 percent scale. My question is, should I drop it? It will go on my record as a dropped course but my mark of 88 will also be there. </p>
<p>I want to get into an Ivy and I'm just wondering if dropping a course is worth getting a percent higher in my average. </p>
<p>*Note that if I drop it I will explain to the admissions people that my teacher was brutal in marking and that I stayed with the course for the whole year, and the reason that I dropped it was because I was overloaded with work and didn't want to sacrifice my other subjects.</p>
<p>Thanks, and please help me out.</p>
<p>i’m not in admissions so i can’t really speak but from my perspective if you drop it you look like you can’t handle the ivy courseload and a grade-grubber, especially since the 88 will still show up. also, blaming the teacher as grading rigorously isn’t going to get any favor with admissions</p>
<p>I see what you’re saying. My concern is that not only will my mark drop at the end, but that it will take up my time and make my other courses’ marks drop as well.</p>
<p>Just do the best you can. Ivies and other similar schools are not just going to look at your GPA, they are going to look at your transcript. I would venture to guess that a history of dropping challenging courses would concern them more than an 88/85. If you were concerned about making a set cutoff GPA for a state school, it would be another matter.</p>
<p>BTW, the last thing you would want to do in your applications/interviews is take up precious space and time explaining one so-so grade! Your applications should focus on presenting you and your strengths fully. Accentuate the positive. If you had some major grade disaster due to illness or family circumstances or something, I would hope that your GC would take care of explaining it for you.</p>
<p>alright. I’ll probably keep the course then. thanks for your reply.</p>
<p>I think getting one “B” is tolerated by ivy admissions. Try not to let your other courses drop.</p>
<p>thanks for the input guys, I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>I have a question: do Ivies consider the class average of the courses you’re taking? and also, do they care what courses you take (e.g. math, accounting, physics vs. bio, music, world history)? would they rather see you take a variety of courses and get a 94 or a heavy science-math based and get 97?</p>
<p>thx</p>
<p>^Most schools aren’t on the point system, so I don’t know what they would think. My feeling is that they won’t care what your class choice is like unless you show a pattern of taking obviously easier classes. Math/sci is not necessarily harder for all people. Just make sure your curriculum looks like “the most rigorous curriculum available”, plus or minus an AP. My feeling is that you should take a math and science class every semester unless you exhaust the calculus and AP science sequence. Other than that, it’s your choice. </p>
<p>They won’t know what the class averages are for individual classes, but your recs should give an indication of how competitive you are with respect to your classmates. You might mention that the class you are getting a “B” in is graded very hard. Also, if you can find it, mention your rank in that class to your college counselor (who is writing your rec.) If you are #2 in that class and getting a “B”, it won’t have a negative impact on her/his assessment of you.</p>
<p>ugh… i’ve been ruminating over this for a long time… and now im leaning towards dropping it. hear me out: first, if i drop it the mark will show that i had an 88, which is respectable. second, i will be taking a full course load (8 courses) in gr 12 and i think if i try my absolute best, i can pull it off. third, this course will definitely negatively impact my other marks. fourth, it’s putting such a mental and emotional stress on me that my chest is just sinking in everyday and making me lose my appetite. now that i’ve looked over my rubric for the summative in that course, the teacher altered the criteria so that now i think i may get an overall 82 in the course.</p>
<p>what do u think?</p>
<p>^^Is it wise to take such a tough courseload 1st semester senior year? </p>
<p>I’m not sure what to tell you about your main problem. I might drop it if I were you. It’s too bad drops show up. Make sure to tell your counselor it’s just because you feel you’re spread too thin rather than because you are afraid of getting a “B”. But I don’t know what to tell you. It’s your call.</p>