<p>I'm attending De Anza College, and have a "B-" in one of my classes (GE class) currently. I have "A's" in the rest of my classes so far.</p>
<p>In my class (B- class), there is still 450 points, of 1000 possible to accumulate. 250 for the final (take home final, 1 week to complete), and 200 points for a group project (waiting to be graded). I'm about 10 points above the a C+, so I barely have a "B-".</p>
<p>I talked to a counselor today and found out that the policy is that if you get a "D" or "F", you can retake a class. Now, I'd be okay with a "B" in the class, but am worried I might fall into the "C" range.</p>
<p>I plan to transfer to a UC in a few years. Will it look bad if I get a "D" or "F" (purposely), and retake it and get an "A"?</p>
<p>I had 2 F’s that i re-took the next semester in major prep work courses and got an “A” in one and a “B” in the other (which means the A/B were the only to reflect on my GPA not the D/F). I think C’s are death to GPA’s personally, so if you can’t get the “B” and are the kind of person that does not like C’s on your transcript I say re-take it. As long as its not a continuous pattern each semester the UC’s or any other school system really don’t care that you had to re-take a class. They don’t know you purposely did that. You can just explain (i.e. exaggerate) in your optional third essay on your UC app why you were struggling in the class and how you overcame it the following semester and showed it through the grade improvement. However, if you dont have any other C’s then one won’t be too bad. Yet, I still think they are death to GPA’s. </p>
<p>Also, I was accepted to Berkeley with this.</p>
<p>I have a very similar problem. I am taking a physics A class and currently have a C grade. I want to transfer to Berkeley for computer science, where physics A is a major requirement.</p>
<p>I have only A’s on my transcript. I talked to the physics teacher, and he advised me to fail the class to be able to retake it, because it would hurt my GPA. I also asked a counselor who said it would be a bad strategy to fail the class to be able to retake it, because it is a major requirement.</p>
<p>Now, I have no clue what to do. I may can get a B, but it is very unlikely. Isn’t a D and afterwards replaced “A” better than a C? I am confident that I will get an “A” when I repeat it, because I finally understand it. But it is too late now!</p>
<p>Does anyone have a good advice? I just got two statements which contradict each other. Another opinion would be helpful.</p>
<p>If you get an F in a class and then retake the class and get an A does the F simply vanish from your transcript and the universities you are applying to only see the A, or does the F remain on your transcript but is simply not included in your GPA? Even if the course is repeated with a grade of A it seems to me that having an F on your transcript would not look very good. I could not help but wonder how a student could have such a poor understanding of a subject that they received an F in it one semester and the very next semester suddenly attain such mastery of it that they receive an A.</p>
<p>^Generally speaking it has to do with life-stressors complicating the class, or perhaps they just really did have that much trouble with it but finally figured out what they were doing wrong. It’s not really inconcievable.</p>
<p>dont forget to think about graduate school (if you’re planning on going). for example, i think some law schools will factor that D/F into your gpa even if you retook it. i read it in the law school forum recently you should check it out</p>
<p>My advice is to ace the final and get a B- in the class! Put your heart and soul into that final Which class at De Anza? I go there too, as you might guess from my username.</p>
<p>Your transcript lists all classes taken that you received a grade or “W” in, in the order you took them. If you took a class and received an “F” in one semester and then re-took the same class the following semester and got an “A” your transcript will show that by having the “F” grade in parenthesis and the “A” grade is only calculated into your transcript.</p>
<p>For example:</p>
<p>Fall 2008 Transcript
Art 1—3 units—A
history 101—3 units—A
(English 103—3 units—F) *
Fall 2008 overall GPA= 2.67</p>
<p>Spring 2009 Transcript
Bio 1—3 units—A
English 103—3 units—A
Theater 20—3 units—B
Spring 2009 GPA= 3.67</p>
<p>overall GPA= 3.8</p>
<p>only the new grade gets calculated into your overall GPA, however it technically still “appears” on your transcript. Since most UC’s mainly only consider GPA’s as the main source of whether they admit a student or not I think its more important. One grade that you had to re-take in your undergraduate work is NOT going to affect your chances at grad school, especially if you do really well once you transfer to a 4-year. </p>
<p>Think about it here is a sample transcript if you took the C–></p>
<p>Fall 2008 Transcript
Art 1—3 units—A
history 101—3 units—A
English 103—3 units—C
Fall 2008 overall GPA= 3.33</p>
<p>Spring 2009 Transcript
Bio 1—3 units—A
Math 103—3 units—A
Theater 20—3 units—B
Spring 2009 GPA= 3.67</p>
<p>overall GPA= 3.5</p>
<p>That is BIG difference in GPA, especially in competitive majors. Like I said, I am speaking from experience and can also say that while essays are not considered at the UC’s (with the exception of UCB) I am pretty sure that the optional third essay is often read by all UC’s and you can use that as an opportunity to explain the grade if you want…however I say, why draw attention to it? its just ONE grade, hidden by all your other GOOD grades!</p>
<p>1st- Do not explain a C for any reason. 2nd- Finish the course you’ll be fine and it will not affect you. 3rd- Please take a look at my profile and our background if you question this advice.</p>
<p>Best wishes
From a group of former Foothill De Anza transfer students that are now Berkeley grads</p>
<p>You guys are being really dramatic about “Grad School”. You can talk to any adviser, any grad school admissions officer, etc and they will tell you that having ONE GRADE that you failed and made up is not the end of the world! Of course, don’t make a habit of it. I always recommend trying your best and accepting whatever grade you get, even if that is a “C”, but if you are a borderline case and you don’t think you can get into the undergrad school of your choice then dont let it affect your GPA too much. If you go to a great UG school and do exceptionally well your chances will not be hindered by ONE GRADE AT A CC! Also, I have no idea where you heard that they “average out your grade of the F and the A” to calculate that into your grad school application transcript. I asked an adviser for graduate admissions at Berkeley about this because you got me worried (since I have two grade changes in my undergrad work) and they said that was false in the UC system, but that all universities are different…so I wouldn’t stress too much about that. I may not be a “Berkeley Graduate” YET, but I will be in two years and maybe then my advice will hold more merit. I agree though about not explaining a “C”, its just a waste, but show that was just a dip in your grades by overcoming it with much better grades! However, if you have amazing grades then one “C” won’t do to much damage either, I only say take a failing grade if 1) you know you cant get a C or better or 2) you have a B average GPA or lower.</p>
<p>The way I see it, if you’re really “UCB material”, then the C won’t have a significant impact on your GPA when the time comes to transfer. </p>
<p>If you’ve read these threads before you’ll notice that I’m usually a jerk about it - honestly, I’ve dropped a class before for similar reasons, and several times I’ve taken a C instead of dropping because I just couldn’t afford to repeat the class. </p>
<p>lol, obviously I’m not “UCB material” but I didn’t want to be a UCB undergrad anyway. </p>
<p>You know what? The only reason I’d drop a class I might get a C in, is if it’s causing me bad grades in your other classes as well.</p>
<p>I actually did that last semester - getting a C wouldn’t have bothered me any but one class in particular was draining the energy out of me so I got rid of it - my grades in both of my other classes went up a full grade as a result XD </p>
<p>That was physics I, the funny thing is that after finishing Calc 2 and getting into multivariable calc, all of the stuff covered in that class became SO MUCH EASIER.</p>
Which class at De Anza? I go there too, as you might guess from my username.</p>