I am a high school junior and I want to go to med school. I am aiming to go to at least UC Davis. I am taking 4 AP courses in which I have received all A’s, but a C in AP Calculus AB. My GPA is a 4.333. If I retake AP Calculus AB, it can go up to a 4.667. I really want to retake it over the summer since having an A would look better than a C, especially in a STEM-related course, but I still want some advice. Could someone please give me advice on this?
I doubt if you could retake it.
Its doubtful if one C is going to affect your application much.
For UCs, if you repeat a course where you earned a C or higher, an A or B grade earned on the repeat will not be counted: http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/q-and-a/repeating/index.html#3
If it’s not going to go on your transcript then yes, otherwise ask teachers and peers for help, get a tutor, practice online, whatever it takes to raise it to a B+.
Most competitive students are probably taking BC or MC and getting straight As but if you are competitive in other ways then one C isn’t going to effect your chances. Don’t let this stress ruin your studies or health. You’ll be fine.
That’s for ninth grade, though.
My overall GPA is a 3.95 and colleges are becoming more competitive nowadays. I need to do good this year to bring up my GPA so that I can at least have a chance at a higher UC, like UCSD, USCB, UCLA, or UCB.
You wrote junior in your original post, that’s 11th grade. I say talk to your GC or email your target college’s admission folks.
No, I am saying that i am in 11th grade but the website says that a ninth grader cannot do that again.
Scroll up a bit to here:
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/q-and-a/repeating/index.html#1
what grade did you take calculus AB or are you taking it now, and you’re averaging a C?
The answer on the website was a “for instance.” If the question were changed to “May a student who receives a C in an “a-g” course in the eleventh grade repeat the course in the summer and try for a higher grade?” the answer would be identical. Anyway, that’s just for UCs. For other colleges, it is unlikely that the C would not be “counted” even if (and that’s a big if) you get an A the second time around. But each HS has its own policies on retakes and each college has its policies on how it looks at grades. If you want definitive answers, go to the source. But for me, no, I would not retake. What I would do is get a tutor to strive for a B (or better) and make this whole thread moot.
Does your school offer AP classes over the summer? DD’s does not, but I guess online is an option. Talk to your GC. My thought is that if you’re taking the class to boost your GPA, then there are easier classes you could take that would do the job. If you’re taking it to get a better handle on calculus, then do it regardless of UC/college policies.
Skieurope is right, though: get a tutor. It’s not too late to salvage your grade for the year.